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Artist description
Does the name David James ring a bell?
Probably not.
Even though you’ve never heard of him, if you’ve
turned on a radio, watched TV or been to a concert
in the last twenty years, you probably have heard
him. During the course of his career, David has
performed live to over a million people all over
the world, made hundreds of TV and radio
appearances, sang on five top forty records,
appeared in six major music videos, and recorded
over twenty albums. Throw in jingles, even karioke
tracks, you’ve heard his voice, guitar and bass.
And then, there’s the songwriting. David
established himself as a staff writer at the
legendary FAME Music in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
in the mid 1990’s and is currently writing for
Encore / Warner Bros. Entertainment in Nashville. He has had twenty seven songs recorded by various artists, including Grammy Award winner James Cotton, rhythm & blues great Dorothy Moore, and country-rock super group POCO.
As a solo performer and with his band Fish Heads
& Rice, David toured the world and released three
albums for Milan, Italy’s Appaloosa Records before
recording an unreleased album for Sony/Columbia
Records in Nashville. He recently finished a solo
CD titled "Clean Getaway" for Troppo Forte Music.
Wanting a simpler life for his family, and the
chance to perform as a musician again, David has
now made St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands his
home. In a recent interview, David was asked about
the move to St. Croix, a look back on his career
so far and some thoughts on the future. Here’s
some of what he had to say:
"The move to the Virgin Islands comes from a lot
of things, a better place for my family, a new
adventure and the chance to get back to playing
music again. My last few years in Nashville got
so corporate that I really wasn’t even playing
much anymore. Writing, meetings and sessions but
very little actually playing music in front of
people, you know, having fun with the crowd. On
our first three records for Appaloosa, we had
complete creative control. Got to make eclectic
albums with a mix of Rock, R&B, Country, Cajun,
Soul, Blues, all the great music I’ve always
loved. With Sony it turned into marketing meetings
and radio focus groups. No one ever talked about
the music, strictly business. Anyway, it really
started to get me down on music altogether, so I
needed a drastic change. With this new CD (Clean
Getaway) I’m back to making music again and
playing around the islands, I’m really glad I did
it.
"As far as looking back, wow, a lot can happen in
twenty-two years. Off the top of my head I’d say
some highlights would be meeting and playing with
Jerry Lee Lewis. He goes wide open all the time.
I met him right when he got out of the hospital
and he was still running full tilt boogie. Getting
to write several times with Peter Frampton would
have to be high up on the list. Playing the Grand
Ole Opry the first time, actually every time was
really special, but the first time really stands
out. It’s one of the few times I can ever remember
having stage fright. Opening shows with The Fish
Heads in Europe for B. B. King, Ry Cooder, and
Keb Mo was very cool.
Playing for, writing with and just knowing Jo-El
Sonnier the past six or eight years has been
great. He’s the real thing, I mean nothing but
pure musical energy, it’s great, no filters, no
nothing. Man, there’s a bunch of stuff. Playing
with Albert Collins, Billy Joe Royal, Gene
Parsons. I’m sure I’ll leave someone out. Opening
shows and meeting Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard.
Russell Smith from The Amazing Rhythm Aces, he’s
a trip, but what a gas to work with. We had a
couple of great tours, great music, big fun. I
don’t know, there’s a whole lot more, but I don’t
need to sit here going down memory lane and bore
you to tears.
Let’s just say it’s been pretty good so far and
leave it at that. "What’s in store for the future?
Who knows, I mean anything can happen. I’ve just
finished another album, so I’m working around the
Caribbean and doing another European tour this
November to support it. In the meantime I’m gonna
write some and play some, go where ever people
want to listen."
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Music Style
Country / Rock / R&B |
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Musical Influences
The Eagles, Sam Cooke, Joe Cocker |
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Similar Artists
Don Henly, Bonnie Raitt, Fish Heads & Rice |
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Artist History
DISCOGRAPHY:
CLEAN GETAWAY David James (2002) Troppo Forte
Music Lead and Background Vocals, Bass, Rhythm
Guitar, Songwriter.
BIG EARL RETURNS Porter Wagoner (2001) StarChaser
Records Lead and Background Vocals.
FISH HEADS & RICE Fish Heads & Rice (1999)
SONY/ Columbia Records Lead and Background Vocals,
Bass, Songwriter.
THE STRONG ONE Mila Mason (1998) Atlantic Records
Background Vocals.
THAT’S ENOUGH OF THAT Mila Mason (1997) Atlantic
Records Background Vocals.
SOMETHING SMELLS FISHY Fish Heads & Rice (1996)
Appaloosa Records Lead and Background Vocals,
Bass, Rhythm Guitar, Songwriter.
4 HEADS Fish Heads & Rice (1994) Appaloosa Records
Lead and Background Vocals, Bass, Songwriter.
CERTIFIED Fish Heads & Rice (1991) Appaloosa
Records Lead and Background Vocals, Bass,
Songwriter.
SOUL PROVIDER Clifford Curry (1994) Appaloosa
Records Bass, Background Vocals.
NEW FINGERPRINTS Greg "Fingers" Taylor (1994)
Appaloosa Records Bass.
MARY ANN BRANDON Mary Ann Brandon (1991)
Appaloosa Records Bass, Background Vocals.
RED, WHITE & BLUES Freddy & The Screamers (1990)
Appaloosa Records Bass, Background Vocals.
EVERYTHING TAKES TIME The James Brothers Band
(1989) Cascade Records Lead and Background Vocals,
Bass, Rhythm Guitar, Songwriter.
JUST LIKE A GIRL The James Brothers Band (1982)
Leaning Chimney Records Bass, Background Vocals.
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ARTISTS (worked with):
FISH HEADS & RICE (1991-2001) - Lead Vocals, Bass,
Rhythm Guitar, Songwriter for Live Performances,
Recording, Television and Radio.
BILLY JOE ROYAL (1999-2000) - Bass and Background
Vocals for Live Performances, Television and
Radio.
MILA MASON (1997-1998) - Bass and Background
Vocals for Live Performances, Recording,
Television and Radio.
JO-EL SONNIER (1993-1996) - Bass and Background
Vocals for Live Performances, Television and
Radio.
RUSSELL SMITH (1992-1993) - Bass and Background
Vocals for Live Performances, Television and
Radio.
REX ALLEN JR. (1991-1993) - Bass and Background
Vocals for Live Performances, Television and
Radio.
EDDY RAVEN (1990-1991) - Bass and Background
Vocals for Live Performances, Television and
Radio.
MEL McDANIEL (1986-1989) - Bass and Background
Vocals for Live Performances, Television and
Radio.
THE JAMES BROTHERS BAND (1980-1983 1989-1990)
Lead and Background Vocals, Bass, Rhythm Guitar,
Songwriter for Live Performances, Recording,
Television and Radio.
Also performed on single engagements and special
performances with: VINCE GILL, HOYT AXTON,
JERRY LEE LEWIS, RODNEY CROWELL, MARTY STUART,
ALBERT COLLINS, JOHNNY LEE, ROSIE FLORES,
CLARENCE "GATEMOUTH" BROWN and GENE PARSONS.
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Instruments
Bass, Guitar, Vocals |
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Albums
Clean Getaway, Certified, 4 Heads, Something Smells Fishy |
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Location
Christiansted, USVI - US Virgin Islands |
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