Paul James

Paul James (born January 18, 1951) is a Canadian guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He won the 1992 Juno Award.

History

Early career Paul James, born Paul James Vigna, grew up in the Bathurst and Bloor Street area of Toronto called Midtown. He graduated from Harbord Collegiate Institute. He began playing the guitar at the age of twelve, having first learned to play the accordion at the age of seven, through which he also learned to read music. He had taken up playing the accordion because his family could not afford a piano. James began playing professionally in the mid-1960s, while in high school. He achieved recognition as a member of a band formed with his classmates called 'Can't Explain'. The very young group of 14 year olds were asked to play a couple of songs at the Devil's Den, located below the Avenue Road Ballroom. The older crowd of Hippies gave them an ovation which gave them the courage go back to the Devils Den. This time Paul James and his drummer John Butt sat in with The Mynah Birds, (Rick James was the lead singer, Neil Young was Rhythm guitar, and Bruce Palmer was bass guitar, Neil & Bruce would later go the USA to play in the group, Buffalo Springfield), again there was great applause. Paul James and John Butt were invited by the owner of the Devils Den to come back once more, this time they sat in with The Sparrow (who would later form the band Steppenwolf). James started playing in Toronto bars full-time following his high school graduation. He answered an ad put up by Frank Mehan in the Long & McQuades Music Store, who was looking for a guitarist who could also sing R&B in his Trio Spring Fever. James was just 17yrs. old. The age limit for bars at that time was 21. After playing many different bars around Ontario, Spring Fever became the house band, for nearly two years, at the Bermuda Tavern in Toronto, playing six forty-minute sets per night, six nights a week, plus two additional sets on Saturday afternoon. The other two plays to which James Musical Director and Composer were Mauriceabout Quebec Premier Maurice Dupessis (1975) and Finding Bumble (1975), both also written by Carol Bolt. on bass and Adrian Vecchiola on drums. James both managed his band and started his own Independent record label, Lick'n Stick Records.

Paul James Band performed a few times at the Colonial Tavern as Mike Lyons the owner took a liking to Paul. Mike had seen James backing up Bo Diddley and asked him if he would back up Lightnin' Hopkins and then Sunnyland Slim, The Paul James Band also opened for and jammed Ramblin' Jack Elliott...The Paul James Band became a popular house band during the 1980–1984 period, playing long-term engagements at various Toronto venues, The Red Lion, The Hotel California, The Upper Lip, and The Isabella Hotel.

In 1982, Willy DeVille met Paul James while performing in Toronto, and invited James to join him and his band Mink DeVille on a World Tour of twelve counties in Europe with a kick off engagement at 'Tracks' in New York City. James agreed, making arrangements that his band could continue as the house band of, The Upper Lip, a Toronto night club, in his absence.

Discography

Paul James Band

Albums 2007 Lost in the Blues (Lick'n Stick) 2003 La Vie en Bleu (Lick'n Stick) 1998 Lazy Crazy Blues (Lick'n Stick) (re-release of Almost Crazy) 1989 Rockin' The Blues (Stony Plain) 1987 Paul James Band (OPM) 1984 Almost Crazy (Lick'n Stick)

Singles 1989 Anna Banana/Jailhouse Rock (Stony Plain) SP-1069 1986 Route 66/Run Run Rudolph (Lick'n Stick) C-626 1986 Good Old Rock 'N' Roll/Joint Out Back (Lick'n Stick) C-595 1985 Six Pack (Lick'n Stick) C-580 1982 Suzette/Maryann (Lick'n Stick) C-350 1980 Lazy Crazy Blues/Trespasser//She Don't Care/Got What You Want (Lick'n Stick) C-311

Paul James 2000 Paul's Acoustic Blues (Lick 'n' Stick) (re-release of Acoustic Blues) 1989 Acoustic Blues (Stony Plain)

Lick'n Stick Singles

1975 Mary Ann/Come And Get My Love (Columbia) C4-4134

1975 Gravity Of Sin/Take It Easy (Columbia) C4-4070

Compilation inclusions 1996 A Celebration of the Blues: Great Slide Guitar (St. Clair) 1991 Saturday Night Blues (Stony Plain)