Renowned guitarist, singer, and songwriter Jamie James—celebrated for his work with Dennis Quaid & The Sharks, his longtime collaborations with the late Harry Dean Stanton, and as the frontman of the ‘80s rockabilly trio The Kingbees returns with a brand-new solo album of “blues-pop,” Straight Up. Out on March 14, this record marks an exciting new chapter in James’ storied career, blending his signature rockabilly and rock influences with fresh, contemporary sounds.
Jamie James on The Kingbees & His Musical Journey
“In 1978, I founded The Kingbees with Michael Rummans on bass and Rex Roberts on drums. Before that, I had toured internationally with a new version of Steppenwolf, but by 1979, I wanted to focus on a more stripped-down sound. Inspired by Buddy Holly, I sold my 1960 Les Paul to fund the band and kept my ‘57 Strat to chase that twangy tone I loved. Our debut album dropped in 1980 on RSO Records, earning us regional success with My Mistake.
Following The Kingbees, I spent nearly a decade making music with Harry Dean Stanton, who introduced me to new musical influences. By 2000, I co-founded Dennis Quaid & The Sharks, touring and recording for nearly two decades.
The pandemic gave me time to refocus. I started writing again, picked up the harmonica, and out of about 30 songs, I narrowed it down to 10 for Straight Up. It features my old bandmates from Dennis Quaid & The Sharks—Tom Walsh, Ken Stange, and Tom Mancillas—who helped bring these songs to life. I couldn’t be more excited to share this record with the world.” — Jamie James
It was my biggest pleasure to have this amazing chat with Jamie James on Straight Up and dig up a bit on his legacy and on The Kingbees. Check out the complete coverage on the below YouTube Video.
Tracklisting:
- Let The Praying Begin
- Get A Hold Of Myself
- Show Biz Boogie
- Septugenarian Blues
- Too Far Gone
- Knock Me Out
- Keep On Rockin
- Morning Noon & Night
- Never Stop Dreaming
- Heavy Load Of The Blues
