Jimmy James (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jimmy James
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| Birth name | Michael James |
| Born | 13 September 1940 Brown's Town, Jamaica |
| Died | 14 May 2024 (aged 83) London, England |
| Genres | Soul, funk, R&B, reggae, disco, ska |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1960–2021 |
| Labels | Pye, Piccadilly |
| Associated acts | Jimmy James and the Vagabonds |
Michael "Jimmy" James (born September 13, 1940 – died May 14, 2024) was a singer from Jamaica and Britain. He was famous for his soul music songs like "Come to Me Softly" and "Now Is the Time". Jimmy James was the lead singer of a band called Jimmy James and the Vagabonds starting in the mid-1960s. He lived in Britain for most of his career.
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Jimmy James's Music Journey
Michael James was born in Brown's Town, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica on September 13, 1940. He grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, where he started his music career. He recorded songs as a solo artist with producers like Coxsone Dodd. His song "Come to Me Softly" became popular in Jamaica. This success made him decide to become a full-time musician.
The band called The Vagabonds started in 1960. Jimmy James joined them in 1964, and they moved to the United Kingdom. Soon after arriving, they recorded an album called Ska-Time. This album was one of the first times Jamaican ska music was recorded in the UK.
In 1965, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds started playing at famous clubs in London, like the Marquee Club. They even supported well-known bands such as the Who and Rod Stewart. They also played at big music festivals. Jimmy James and the Vagabonds often shared stages with Jimi Hendrix's band, The Experience, in the late 1960s. Jimmy James remembered Jimi Hendrix as a "great guy, very quiet."
The band signed a record deal with Pye Records. In 1966, they released their popular album, The New Religion. They continued to open for huge bands like Sonny & Cher and the Rolling Stones. They even recorded at Abbey Road Studios, which is where the Beatles recorded their music!
The Vagabonds band broke up in 1970. However, Jimmy James started a new version of the band in 1973. This new group had hit songs in the UK Singles Chart. These included "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me" in 1976 and "Now Is the Time".
In 2007, Jimmy James worked on a song called "The Other Side of the Street." He also performed regularly around the UK with other famous singers like Clem Curtis from The Foundations. They toured together in a show called 'The Soul Explosion'. In 2013, they even toured with one of Jimmy James's heroes, Ben E. King.
Jimmy James continued to perform concerts until late 2021, even at 80 years old. He later stopped performing because of Parkinson's disease and a heart condition. He passed away on May 14, 2024, at the age of 83.
The Vagabonds Band Members
Over the years, many talented musicians were part of The Vagabonds. Here are some of them:
- Phil Chen (guitar, bass guitar, 1960–1970)
- Rupert Balgobin (drums, 1960–1970)
- Barry Sutton (trumpet, 1967–1970)
- Colston Chen (bass, 1960–1970)
- Fred Fredericks (saxophone, 1960–1970)
- Carl Griffiths (saxophone, 1960–1970)
- Count Prince Miller (vocals, 1960–1970)
- Carl Noel (keyboards, 1960–1967)
- Art Regis (Hammond organ, 1967–1969)
- John Roberts (bass guitar, 1968–1970
- Wallace Wilson (guitar, 1960–1970)
- Stewart Blandamer (saxophone, 1970–1972)
- Steve Farr (saxophone, 1970–1972)
- Bill Roberts (guitar, 1970–1972)
- Eddy Spence (keyboards, 1970–1972)
- Kelvin "Kelly" Cantlon (bass, 1970–1972)
- Mick Dolan (drums, 1970–1972)
- Alan Wood (bass, 1973–1977)
- Martin Dale (trumpet, 1971)
- Dave Hopper (guitar, 1973–74)
- Fred Guite (drums, 1973–74)
- Pete Wright (drums, 1974–75)
- Russ Courtenay (drums, 1975–1977)
- Chris Garfield (guitar, 1975–1977)
- Alan Kirk (keyboards, 1975–1977, 1985–1992)
- Pete Gill (drums, 1974–1975)
- John Steele (guitar, 1974–1975)
- Rick Sequeira (keyboards, 1974–1975)
- Andrew Platts (trombone and vocals, 1977–1979)
- Glenn Harland (lead guitar, 1981–1984)
- John Wintony (keyboards, 1981–1984)
- Dave Bussey (drums, 1981–1984)
- John Radcliffe (guitar, 1986)
- David McKendrick (bass, 1981–1982)
- Mark Taylor (keyboards, 1981–1982)
- Chris Turner (bass, 1981–1984)
- Steve Ward (lead guitarist, 1990–1995)
- David Cooke (keyboards, 1990–1995)
- Pat Coleman (drums, 1990–1994)
- Neil Moore (bass and vocals, 1985–1990)
- Mario James (bass, 1986–1992)
- Chris Broadhead (drums, 1986–1990)
- Mike Scrimshaw (bass, 1992)
- Ian "Mo" Gilbert (keyboards, 1996–2011)
- Ben Martin (saxophone, bass, guitar, BV's, 1994–2010)
- George Jeffers (bass 1992–2022)
- Chris Loach (guitar, 1995–2022)
- Jon Trier (piano, 1996–2022)
- Matt Newnham (drums, BV's, 2003–2022)
- Benny Lee (trumpet, 2004–2022)
- Nick Smith (sax, 2010–2022)
Jimmy James's Albums and Songs
Here is a list of the albums and songs Jimmy James released.
Studio Albums
- The New Religion (1966)
- This Is Jimmy James and the Vagabonds (1968)
- Open Up Your Soul (1968)
- You Don't Stand a Chance If You Can't Dance (1975)
- Now (1976)
- Life (1977)
Live Albums
- Live (1984)
Compilation Albums
- Golden Hour of Jimmy James and the Vagabonds (1979)
- Jimmy James and the Vagabonds (1993)
- I'll Go Where the Music Takes Me - The Best of Jimmy James and the Vagabonds (1994)
- Vagabond King: The Sixties Sides (1997)
- Where Your Music Takes Me (1998)
- Now Is the Time (2014)
Singles (Songs)
| Year | Song | UK |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | "Ain't Love Good, Ain't Love Proud" | — | ||||
| "This Heart of Mine" | — | |||||
| "I Feel Alright" | — | |||||
| "I Gotta Dance to Keep from Cryin'" | — | |||||
| 1967 | "I Can't Get Back Home to My Baby" | 53 | ||||
| "No Good to Cry" | — | |||||
| 1968 | "Come to Me Softly" | — | ||||
| "Red Red Wine" | 36 | |||||
| 1974 | "Dancin' to the Music of Love" | — | ||||
| "Marble & Iron" | — | |||||
| "You Don't Stand a Chance If You Can't Dance" | — | |||||
| 1975 | "Hey Girl" | — | ||||
| "Whatever Happened to the Love We Knew" | — | |||||
| 1976 | "Let's Have Fun" | — | ||||
| "Do the Funky Conga" | — | |||||
| "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me" | 23 | |||||
| "Now Is the Time" | 5 | |||||
| 1978 | "I Can't Stop My Feet from Dancin'" | — | ||||
| "—" means the song did not appear on the music chart. | ||||||
See also
- Biddu
- List of performances on Top of the Pops
