Biography
Born on 22 August 1967 in Portland, Michigan, USA, James absorbed church singing alongside recorded blues and rock from an early age. By her teens she had developed into a poised and skilled performer. At Michigan State University she crossed paths with guitarist Craig Calvert, after which the pair began writing and performing as a unit. Their group, the Flying Tigers, cultivated a loyal audience throughout the Detroit region before seeking wider exposure. Relocating to Chicago, Illinois, they assembled Jewel Fetish and worked numerous respected local blues venues such as Buddy Guy’s, Blues Legends, Taste Of Chicago and The House of Blues. As her profile rose, James began headlining solo bills while Calvert supplied intense, incisive guitar backing. Her vocal approach fuses country blues and classic rock, threaded with gospel depth and occasional country inflections.
During the mid-90s an album issued by the Netherlands-based Provogue Records expanded her established Chicago following. Subsequent releases, though tracked in Chicago, also appeared on Provogue and earned enthusiastic notices across Europe, the UK and the United States. In Chicago she took part in the theatrical production Love, Janis, drawn from letters by Janis Joplin—the singer with whom James has drawn favorable comparisons—and centered on Joplin’s life and repertoire. The body of recordings by James and Calvert demonstrates a level of craft that surpasses many more widely recognized acts.
During the mid-90s an album issued by the Netherlands-based Provogue Records expanded her established Chicago following. Subsequent releases, though tracked in Chicago, also appeared on Provogue and earned enthusiastic notices across Europe, the UK and the United States. In Chicago she took part in the theatrical production Love, Janis, drawn from letters by Janis Joplin—the singer with whom James has drawn favorable comparisons—and centered on Joplin’s life and repertoire. The body of recordings by James and Calvert demonstrates a level of craft that surpasses many more widely recognized acts.
Albums
