Steve James, b. July 15, 1950 in New York City, NY, folk blues musician. A multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter, James operates in the fields of acoustic and folk blues. Without the benefit of promotion from a major record label, James has secured his fan base from consistent touring.
James plays a National steel guitar, mandolin, and the banjo, having become fixated, as an adolescent, on blues music. As a teenager in New York City, James listened to his father's record collection, which included recordings from Lead Belly, Josh White, and Meade "Lux" Lewis. Following relocation to Tennessee, he met both Sam McGee and Furry Lewis. In 1977, he moved to San Antonio, Texas, and played along with various musicians including Bo Diddley, John P. Hammond and Dave Van Ronk. James' earliest recordings were Two Track Mind (1993), American Primitive (1994), and Art & Grit (1996). Bob Brozman played some slide guitar on Art & Grit, and Danny Barnes has appeared on a number of James' recordings. In 2000 the Portland, Oregon based, Burnside Records label, issued Boom Chang. Three years later Burnside released, Fast Texas, where James was accompanied by Cindy Cashdollar on steel and dobro guitars; plus Ruthie Foster and Cyd Cassone on vocals. James' own songs appeared on Fast Texas, as well as covers of work from Hop Wilson, Milton Brown, and Little Hat Jones. Cashdollar and Alvin Youngblood Hart had previously guested on Boom Chang. James' playing has also appeared on recordings from James McMurtry and Ana Egge. He has released an instructional video and contributed to Acoustic Guitar. He continues to tour around the world and incorporates teaching sessions on guitar playing techniques.
Steve James Biography by Richard Skelly
Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter Steve James has carved a niche for himself in the acoustic and folk-blues scene through a lot of touring. He's built his fan base the old-fashioned way, without the support of an international record company marketing machine.
James, who plays National steel guitar, mandolin, and banjo, got hooked on blues as a 12-year-old. In his youth, he befriended and learned from some of the masters of acoustic blues: Sam McGee and B.B. King's cousin, Furry Lewis. As a young teenager in New York City, James heard the 78-rpm recordings of Leadbelly, Josh White, and Meade "Lux" Lewis contained in his father's record collection. After moving to Tennessee, he befriended McGee and Lewis. In 1977, he moved to San Antonio Texas, where he further broadened his musical horizons out of necessity, playing with everyone from saxophone legend Clifford Scott to rock & roll with Bo Diddley. During this time, he also shared stages with John Hammond, Jr. and Dave Van Ronk when they were passing through Texas.
James' recordings include three releases for the Austin-based Antone's Records, Two Track Mind (1993), American Primitive (1994), and Art & Grit (1996). More recently, he's been affiliated with the Portland, Oregon-based Burnside Records label and released Boom Chang in 2000. Burnside issued a 2003 release, Fast Texas, which has many Texas-centric songs about where James has spent the last 25 years of his life. He's accompanied on the album by some other Texas transplants, including Cindy Cashdollar on steel and dobro guitar, and Ruthie Foster and Cyd Cassone on vocals. A good sampling of James' inspired original songs can be found on Fast Texas, as well as crafty interpretations of songs by Hop Wilson, Milton Brown, and Little Hat Jones. Cashdollar, Gary Primich, and Alvin Youngblood Hart also accompany James on Boom Chang.
James' guitar, mandolin, and slide guitar playing can be heard on recordings by James McMurtry, Angela Strehli, Ana Egge, and the Bad Livers. James has also recorded an instructional video on acoustic blues guitar and contributed magazine articles to Acoustic Guitar magazine. His instructional book, Roots and Blues Fingerstyle was published by Acoustic Guitar.
Any of James' recordings showcase his mastery on a variety of guitars, and any one of them would do for students of acoustic blues guitar. He might recommend that serious students check out his own influences: Rev. Gary Davis, Skip James, Lightnin' Hopkins, Doc Watson, and Son House.
James continues to tour and teach across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South America.