For many Canadian singer/song- writers, the road to stardom is a rocky one. For Colin James, it was destiny.
James started with his first electric guitar at the tender age of 10 and by 14, he was in an Irish-bluegrass band called Sod Hut.
"At 13 I was playing the mandolin and then at 16 I started playing and school went by the wayside for me," he says. "I left home and moved to Winnipeg and got a couple jobs at coffeehouses and folk festivals. I started touring Regina, Winnipeg and Saskatchewan and then, a couple of years later, Stevie Ray Vaughan came to town and I started opening up for his shows."
By 1988, James released his self-titled debut and won a Juno for "Most Promising New Artist." Fifteen years later, with the release of his latest full-length album on Tue., Sept. 9, Colin James is flying high.
The album’s first single, "I’m Losing You," is already in the rock Top 20 and his second single, "Make a Mistake," debuted at 37 on Canadian radio charts. With six Junos under his belt and three Jazz Report Awards, things are looking good for this Canadian artist.
James recorded his ninth full-length album, Traveler, at Paramour Studios in Los Angeles. Tracks included on the new release are a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s "Rainy Day, Dream Away" and a cover of John Lennon’s "I’m Losing You."
"I think right now my favorite track on the record is ‘Make a Mistake’ just because it’s got that Rïœ|B soul vibe that’s just so much fun to sing," he says.
James collaborated with writer Jeff Trott of Sheryl Crow fame to write many of the songs on his album such as "You and Whose Army" and "Sky Diving."
So the big question is why should we give up our hard earned money to buy Traveler?
"It costs a lot less than going to a hockey game, a third of the price, and two or three years of work goes into it," he says.
Sounds like a good argument. As to James’ next direction?
"I’ve got a couple of things in mind, but I map to change. Right now, I’m thinking a straight Chicago blues record. After that, there will be a little Big Band Three."