Biography
Born Douglas James Schlecht on 21 August 1953 in Turlock, California, the musician grew up under the influence of his mother, a church organist, who prompted an early fascination with music. He soon taught himself saxophone and settled on the baritone as his primary instrument while also mastering tenor saxophone and bass clarinet. After a period spent with his family in Oregon, they established roots in Rhode Island, where James joined guitarist Duke Robillard’s Roomful Of Blues in 1971. His connection to the group has persisted on an intermittent basis into the new millennium. Through the band he performed across international stages and contributed to numerous recordings, among them Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson And Roomful Of Blues (1982) and Blues Train: Big Joe Turner & Roomful Of Blues (1983). Beyond those two vocalists, he has frequently supported additional prominent blues figures such as LaVern Baker, Helen Humes, Colin James, Freddie King, Charlie Musselwhite, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Junior Walker, Muddy Waters and Jimmy Witherspoon.
On his first album under his own name, released in 2001, James assembled a cast of former Roomful Of Blues members that included Robillard. One of those colleagues is saxophonist ‘Sax’ Gordon Beadle (b. 1965, Detroit, Michigan, USA), alongside whom James performs in other ensembles and with whom he occasionally directs a big band.
On his first album under his own name, released in 2001, James assembled a cast of former Roomful Of Blues members that included Robillard. One of those colleagues is saxophonist ‘Sax’ Gordon Beadle (b. 1965, Detroit, Michigan, USA), alongside whom James performs in other ensembles and with whom he occasionally directs a big band.
Albums
Singles
