| James Anthony has a unique style and grace
along with a feel for a range of electric and
acoustic music stemming from Blues to R&B,
Jazz, Swing and Country. However the one
feature that James is most renowned for is
his captivating slide guitar work. James is
looked upon as being a "Guitarist's guitarist",
especially after winning the Coca-Cola Fender
Guitar Warz 1989 in Toronto. He also won the
Cable TV Producers Award for best music show
after 4 years at Rogers Cable. Equally at home
on an acoustic, Dobro or fingerstyle, James has
hosted guitar workshops at festivals including
Festival of Friends in Hamilton, Mill Race Folk
Festival in Cambridge and The Harbourfront
Blues Fest in Toronto.
He started out as a natural musician at 10, played
Ontario Place at 15 and turned pro at 17. James'
experience in the music industry is reminiscent
of legendary players of the past. Throughout his
career he has been a most sought-after sideman.
As a three year member of Lulu's house band
"Kats", James worked with over 150 rock & roll
legends, playing to up to 5,000 people every
weekend.
In 1980 his band Mombo Combo (on RCA) played Massey Hall and opened up for Howlin' Wolf,
Elvin Bishop, Albert King and many more at the now legendary El Mocambo and the Colonial
Tavern in Toronto. James was scheduled to play the Diamond Club in Toronto with Memphis
Slim the day the legend passed away. Live radio and television concerts over his career have
found him sharing the stage with too many to mention. From 1972 til now, James has played on
countless records as a session man including jingles, films, documentaries such as "Friday the
13th Biker Bash, Common Grounds" and also the "Blue Note Jeans - Bad to the Bone" tv
commercial shown world-wide. James worked over 7 years of house band gigs including Old
Chicago's in London, The Corral in Oshawa, The Cafe Cajun in Markham, Hootche's in
Cambridge and Mattsons in Burlington. In 1999, James Anthony was the musical director for the
Gordon McLean TV Show.
The turn of the century is finding James with a new audience, playing outside of Canada in the
Azores, Buffalo and Upstate New York, New Orleans and in Hungary at blues festivals. James
played on the same club tour as Robben Ford and Al Demeola in Budapest. Now in 2001, he
owns Grapevine Recording Studio and is shopping his new CD "Soul Shoes", a follow-up to "Nite School", to record labels.
James Anthony has also played with: Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), Gary US Bonds, Frankie Ford,
Denny Doherty (The Mamas and The Papas), The Platters, Sha Na Na, Peter Noone (Herman's
Hermits", The Drifters, The Coasters, Brian Hyland, and Rick James. Blues artists Big Mama
Thornton, Eddie Kirkland, Big Moose Walker, Willie Big Eyes Smith, Kris St. Louis, Carols Del
Junco, also Chuck Jackson, Tony Flaim and Hock Walsh from the "Downchild Blues Band".
Jay Douglas, George Oliver, Grant Smith, Johnny Preston (Running Bear), Gene Taylor (The
Fabulous Thunderbirds), Doc Fingers, Jesse Grooms, Chicago Jack, Kenny Neal and Mary Haitz.
Juno winner Patricia Daulquist (John Williams). Country artists Ronnie Dove, Michelle Wright,
Tommy Hunter, The Allen Sisters, Murray McLaughlin, Anne Murray's Band, CFGM Opry North
House Band, Bobby Curtola, Noel Cash, Darlene Austin and Charlie Walker.
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