Jamie James - Straight Up
In the winter of 1978, I founded the Kingbees with Michael Rummans on bass and Rex Roberts on drums. The year before, in 1977, I had toured internationally with a new version of Steppenwolf—the first lineup without John Kay - called The New Steppenwolf. This group included original members Nick St. Nicholas and Goldy McJohn, along with guitarist Kent Henry, drummer Tony DeSantis, vocalist Tom Pagan, and myself. We played extensively across the United States and Europe. However, after about a year, I felt uncertain about the project’s future. I shifted my focus, started listening heavily to Buddy Holly, and embraced a simpler sound. I sold my 1960 Les Paul, which supported me financially while I launched the Kingbees, keeping the ‘57 Strat for that rich, twangy tone I wanted.
Our first performance was in early May 1979 at The Troubadour, and our debut album was released on RSO Records in March 1980. We found some success with a regional hit, “My Mistake.” Eventually, both the band and the record label dissolved, and I needed a break.
After a couple of years on pause, I began collaborating with a dear friend, Harry Dean Stanton. We made music together for about nine years, and he introduced me to genres I hadn’t explored before, which was both refreshing and inspiring. By the end of the 1990s, that phase was winding down.
In 2000, I started a new project with Dennis Quaid. We formed Dennis Quaid and the Sharks, with Tom Walsh on drums, Tom Mancillas on bass, and Ken Stange on keyboards. This band lasted nearly two decades, up until 2018 or 2019, just before the pandemic hit.
The slowdown brought by the pandemic gave me time to refocus. I started writing songs again and picked up the harmonica with newfound dedication. Over the next couple of years, I wrote consistently, and the songs kept coming. From about 30 songs I’ve written, I’m excited to share these 10 with you through Oglio Entertainment.
The musicians on this project are the same talented team I worked with in Dennis Quaid and the Sharks: Tom Walsh on drums, Ken Stange on organ, and Tom Mancillas on bass, with me on guitar and harmonica. I couldn’t be more thrilled to present these songs to you.
Jamie James
