Paul James: "Around & Around", Beaches Int'l Jazz Fest, Toronto 2013
4I started going to bars to see bands the day I turned 18...one of the first bands I saw was Paul James...little did I know then that I'd be going to his shows 50 years later. This band!...This. singer!... were the musical focal point of my lifetime of weekends. We would always check out where Paul James was playing first...always! It was always a guarnateed fun night of dancing because the women loved dancing to his brand of 'good old rock n roll'...Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters and a lot of original material. I feel so blessed and fortunate that Paul James' career coincided with my growing up from my teenage years until my retirement years.
Paul James (born 1951) in Toronto is a blues guitarist and vocalist, heading the Paul James Band. Paul James, born Paul Vigna, originally was part of the band Lick'n Stick, but went on to found his own band. He has won a Juno Award in the Best Roots and Traditional Music category.
In the past James has played with Bob Dylan and blues singers like Bo Diddley, Lightning Hopkins, Sunnyland Slim,
Paul James is a Canadian cultural icon. A veteran entertainer, this player has seen all that this crazy music business has to offer. His talents as a guitarist, vocalist, band leader, stage acrobatic, and songwriter have allowed James to produce the music he loves for over 4 decades.
Paul James is a real musician's, musician. He is constantly surrounded by the worlds stage as big time players such as Mink De Ville, Bo Diddley, Bob Dylan, John Hammond, Spencer Davis, Lightnin' Hopkins, Jack Scott, Sunnyland Slim, Downchild Blues Band and Robert Gordon to mention a few.
One of the most exciting and energetic Toronto-based Canadian musicians ... past, present and future....This year 2012, Paul James received 'The Maple Blues (Lifetime Achievement Award for Blues Music in Canada). Paul James is a Juno winner (Canadian music industry award) in the Best Roots and Traditional Music category... not surprizing! And Paul has received two Toronto Music awards for Best Club Band and Best Blues Artist.