Colin James

Colin James
Colin James
	Colin James in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Colin James Munn
Born	August 17, 1964 (age 60); Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Genres	Blues rock; jump blues; swing revival;
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1986–present
Website	www.colinjames.com

Colin James OBC (born Colin James Munn;^[1] August 17, 1964) is a Canadian blues rock singer and songwriter. James has been very successful in Canada, having attained seven Gold-certified albums in Canada during his career, including four Platinum albums and two Double Platinum albums.^[2]

Biography

Early years

James was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.^[1] His grandfather was Serbian. James quit school in Grade 10.^[3] James got his break in his music career opening for Stevie Ray Vaughan in Saskatoon in 1983. When the scheduled opening act did not show, he only had a few hours' notice to put together a set of blues standards with members from the local Regina band "Flying Colours". Vaughan invited James to perform with him during the encore, and then join his tour as a permanent opening act. He and his band The Hoodoo Men^[1] opened for Vaughan for several tour dates in the United States. According to legend, Vaughan himself suggested the stage name "Colin James", because when announced over arena P.A. systems, "Munn" sounded like "Mud".^[4]^[5] James also played guitar on Richard Marx's song "Thunder and Lightning".^[6]

Rock, swing and blues career

In 1987, James won the CASBY Award for "Most Promising Artist".^[7] In 1988, following his association with Vaughan, James released his self-titled debut album,^[1] which yielded several international hit singles, as did the follow-up Sudden Stop.^[1] He presaged the mid-1990s swing music revival with his Colin James and the Little Big Band project, which released a successful first CD in 1993,^[1] with a follow-up gold record in 1998,^[8] a third disc 2006, and a Christmas album in 2007.

James's worldwide popularity waned somewhat in the late 1990s, but he continued to release albums in rock, blues, and acoustic styles. In 2005, he gave a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to his home province of Saskatchewan.^[9]

James' backing band frequently includes members of the Vancouver-based band Odds, and he has co-written songs with Odds singer-guitarist Craig Northey. In February 2005, James guest-starred in an episode of the television program Corner Gas, a Canadian sitcom based in rural Saskatchewan.

In 2007, James' album Limelight received a Gold record for sales in Canada. In January 2008, James received three Toronto Blues Society Maple Blues Awards: "Entertainer of the Year", "Electric Act of the Year" and "Recording of the Year" for Colin James & The Little Big Band 3.^[10]

In 2009, James recorded the album Rooftops and Satellites with, among others, former Junkhouse front man Tom Wilson. The album was co-produced, engineered and mixed by Mike Fraser, at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver.^[11]

James' 2016 album Blue Highways spent 10 weeks at No.1 on the Roots Music Report's Blues Chart following its debut, and appeared in Living Blues magazine's Top 50 albums of that year. Its follow-up, Miles To Go, was released in September 2018, to equal acclaim entering the top 10 blues charts in Canada, USA, UK and Australia.

Personal life

James has been married to his wife Heather since 1989. They have two grown children and live in suburban Vancouver.^[12]

Discography

Studio albums

Colin James (1988)
Sudden Stop (1990)
Colin James and the Little Big Band (1993)
Bad Habits (1995)
National Steel (1997)
Colin James and the Little Big Band II (1998)
Fuse (2000)
Traveler (2003)
Limelight (2005)
Colin James & The Little Big Band 3 (2006)
Colin James & The Little Big Band: Christmas (2007)
Rooftops and Satellites (2009)
Fifteen (2012)
Hearts on Fire (2015)
Blue Highways (2016)
Miles to Go (2018)
Open Road (2021)
Chasing the Sun (2024)

Live albums

Twenty Five Live (2013)

Compilation albums

Then Again... (1995)
Take It From The Top: The Best Of Colin James (2011)

Guest appearances

Long John Baldry – It Still Ain't Easy (1991)
Richard Marx – "Thunder and Lightning" (1991)
The Chieftains – Another Country (1992)
Johnny Hallyday – Rough Town (1994)
The Chieftains – Long Black Veil (1995)
Don Freed – Live, ARR! (1993; credited as Colin James Munn)
Long John Baldry – Right To Sing The Blues (1996)
JW-Jones Blues Band – My Kind of Evil (2004)
Craig Northey and Jesse Valenzuela – Northey Valenzuela (2004)
Bernard Allison – Highs & Lows (2022)

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions		Album
Year	Title	CAN ^[13]	US Main. Rock ^[14]	Album
1986	"Five Long Years" (released by Bumstead Records)	—	—	Colin James
1988	"Voodoo Thing"	19	30
1989	"Dream of Satin"	49	—
	"Chicks 'n Cars (And the Third World War)"	51	—
	"Five Long Years" (released by Virgin Records)	—	—
	"Why'd You Lie"	—	—
	"Back in My Arms Again"	80	—	American Boyfriends (soundtrack)
1990	"Just Came Back"	5	7	Sudden Stop
	"Keep On Loving Me Baby"	35	21
	"If You Lean on Me"	74	—
	"T for Trouble"	—	—
	"Give It Up" (with Bonnie Raitt)	59	—
1992	"Love Thang"	—	—	Colin James and the Little Big Band
1993	"Cadillac Baby"	18	—
1994	"Surely (I Love You)"	19	—
	"Breakin' Up the House"	29	—
	"No More Doggin'"	57	—
1995	"Stay"	26	—	Then Again...
	"Freedom"	18	—	Bad Habits
	"Saviour"	8	—
1996	"Real Stuff"	26	—
1997	"Fixin' to Die"	—	—	National Steel
1998	"Let's Shout (Baby Work Out)"	36	—	Colin James and the Little Big Band II
1998	"C'mon with the C'mon"	—	—	Colin James and the Little Big Band II
2000	"Hide"	—	—	Fuse
2000	"Getting Higher"	—	—	Fuse
2003	"I'm Losing You"	—	—	Traveler
2003	"Make a Mistake"	—	—
2004	"Know How to Love You"	—	—
2005	"Far Away Like a Radio"	—	—	Limelight
	"Better Way to Heaven"	—	—
	"Travelin'"	—	—
2006	"Into the Mystic"	—	—
2006	"If You Need Me"	—	—	Colin James & The Little Big Band 3
2009	"Man's Gotta Be a Stone"	—	—	Rooftops and Satellites
	"Lost Again"	—	—
	"Wavelength"	—	—
2010	"Johnny Coolman"	—	—
2011	"It's Gonna Be Alright"	—	—	Take It From The Top: The Best Of Colin James
2012	"Stone Faith"	—	—	Fifteen
2012	"I Need You Bad"	—	—	Fifteen
2015	"Just a Little Love"	—	—	Hearts On Fire
2016	"Going Down"	—	—	Blue Highways
2016	"Riding in the Moonlight"	—	—	Blue Highways
2018	"40 Light Years"	—	—	Miles to Go
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Television appearance

James made a cameo in the Canadian television program Corner Gas, Season 2, episode 15, which was originally broadcast on February 21, 2005.^[15]

Awards and honours

Juno Awards

James has been nominated for 17^[16] Juno Awards, winning seven of them.^[17]

Wins

1989 – "Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year"^[18]
1991 – "Single of the Year" for "Just Came Back"
1991 – "Male Vocalist of the Year"
1996 – "Male Vocalist of the Year"
1998 – "Best Blues Album for National Steel
1999 – "Best Producer" for "Let's Shout" and "C'mon with the C'mon" from Colin James and the Little Big Band II
2019 – "Blues Album of the Year" for "Miles to Go"
2022- Blues Album Of The Year for “Open Road”

Nominations

1989 – "Canadian Entertainer of the Year"
1991 – "Canadian Entertainer of the Year"
1992 – "Canadian Entertainer of the Year"
1994 – "Best Blues/Gospel Album" for Colin James and The Little Big Band
1995 – "Male Vocalist of the Year"
1996 – "Best Video" for "Freedom"
1998 – "Best Male Vocalist"
1999 – "Best Blues Album for Colin James and The Little Big Band II
2007 – "Blues Album of the Year" for Colin James and The Little Big Band III
2013 – "Blues Album of the Year" for "Fifteen"
2017 – "Blues Album of the Year" for "Blue Highways"
2019 - Blues Album Of The Year for “Miles To Go”
2022 - Blues Album of the Year for Open Road

Maple Blues Awards

Colin James has been nominated for, and won, 20 Maple Blues Awards, between 1997 and 2018.

Other

James was made a member of the Order of British Columbia in 2024.^[19]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 195/6. ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
^ "Gold/Platinum". December 28, 1993. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
^ "James plays the blues". The Gateway. March 17, 1988. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
^ Ouzounian, Richard (March 15, 2013). "Colin James: Blazing his own path for 25 years". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
^ "Colin James (December 2016)". FabricationsHQ – Putting the Words to the Music. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
^ Marx, Richard. "Richard Marx - Thunder and Lightning". youtube.com. YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
^ "The CASBYs: gloss and glitter and...a blooper" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
^ Bettsy Powell (January 16, 1999). "There's no place like home". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. and 58. ISSN 0006-2510.
^ "Canadian Press: Saskatchewan Parties with the Royals". jonimitchell.com. Joni Mitchell Library. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
^ "2007 Maple Blues Awards Winners". Torontobluessociety.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
^ "Home". Colin James. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
^ Renshaw, Nikki. "Cool Yule with Colin James". vancouversun.com. Vancouver Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
^
Peak positions for singles in Canada:
- For "Voodoo Thing": "Top Singles – Volume 48, No. 25, October 8, 1988" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Dream of Satin": "Top Singles – Volume 50, No. 23, October 2, 1989" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Chicks 'n Cars (And the Third World War)": "Top Singles – Volume 50, No. 8, June 19, 1989" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Back in My Arms Again": "Top Singles – Volume 51, No. 10, January 20, 1990" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Just Came Back": "Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 14, August 18, 1990" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Keep On Lovin' Me Baby": "Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 25, November 3, 1990" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "If You Lean on Me": "Top Singles – Volume 53, No. 21, April 27, 1991" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Give It Up": "Top Singles – Volume 53, No. 10, February 9, 1991" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Cadillac Baby": "Top Singles – Volume 59, No. 22, December 11, 1993" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Surely (I Love You)": "Top Singles – Volume 59, No. 16, May 9, 1994" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Breakin' Up the House": "Top Singles – Volume 59, No. 26, July 18, 1994" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "No More Doggin'": "Top Singles – Volume 60, No. 12, October 10, 1994" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Stay": "Top Singles – Volume 61, No. 14, May 8, 1995" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Freedom": "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 1, February 19, 1996" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Saviour": "Top Singles – Volume 62, No. 8, September 25, 1995" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Real Stuff": "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 11, April 29, 1996" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- For "Let's Shout (Baby Work It Out)": "Top Singles – Volume 67, No. 20, August 10, 1998" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
^ "Colin James". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
^ "Colin James in Corner Gas". Youtube.com. January 26, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2017.^{[dead YouTube link]}
^ "Search Awards | The JUNO Awards". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
^ "Juno Awards/Canadian Music Hall of Fame winner and nominations". Juno-awards.ca. Retrieved November 26, 2006.
^ "You oughta Juno: What happened to those artists voted most likely to succeed? Part 2 — 1986 – 1999". National Post, David Berry and Rebecca Tucker | March 14, 2015
^ "35 years of excellence: 12 outstanding individuals honoured" (Press release). Government of British Columbia. August 5, 2024.

External links

Official website
Colin James Archived February 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine at AuthenticBlues.com
Maple Blues Awards

[LarkinBlues-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 195/6. ISBN 0-85112-673-1.

[2] "Gold/Platinum". December 28, 1993. Retrieved January 8, 2024.

[3] "James plays the blues". The Gateway. March 17, 1988. Retrieved May 23, 2023.

[4] Ouzounian, Richard (March 15, 2013). "Colin James: Blazing his own path for 25 years". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 6, 2017.

[5] "Colin James (December 2016)". FabricationsHQ – Putting the Words to the Music. Retrieved November 6, 2017.

[6] Marx, Richard. "Richard Marx - Thunder and Lightning". youtube.com. YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.

[7] "The CASBYs: gloss and glitter and...a blooper" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved January 26, 2024.

[Inc.1999-8] Bettsy Powell (January 16, 1999). "There's no place like home". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. and 58. ISSN 0006-2510.

[9] "Canadian Press: Saskatchewan Parties with the Royals". jonimitchell.com. Joni Mitchell Library. Retrieved August 17, 2021.

[10] "2007 Maple Blues Awards Winners". Torontobluessociety.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009.

[11] "Home". Colin James. Retrieved November 6, 2017.

[12] Renshaw, Nikki. "Cool Yule with Colin James". vancouversun.com. Vancouver Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2021.

[Canada-13] Peak positions for singles in Canada:
For "Voodoo Thing": "Top Singles – Volume 48, No. 25, October 8, 1988" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Dream of Satin": "Top Singles – Volume 50, No. 23, October 2, 1989" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Chicks 'n Cars (And the Third World War)": "Top Singles – Volume 50, No. 8, June 19, 1989" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Back in My Arms Again": "Top Singles – Volume 51, No. 10, January 20, 1990" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Just Came Back": "Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 14, August 18, 1990" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Keep On Lovin' Me Baby": "Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 25, November 3, 1990" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "If You Lean on Me": "Top Singles – Volume 53, No. 21, April 27, 1991" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Give It Up": "Top Singles – Volume 53, No. 10, February 9, 1991" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Cadillac Baby": "Top Singles – Volume 59, No. 22, December 11, 1993" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Surely (I Love You)": "Top Singles – Volume 59, No. 16, May 9, 1994" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Breakin' Up the House": "Top Singles – Volume 59, No. 26, July 18, 1994" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "No More Doggin'": "Top Singles – Volume 60, No. 12, October 10, 1994" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Stay": "Top Singles – Volume 61, No. 14, May 8, 1995" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Freedom": "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 1, February 19, 1996" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Saviour": "Top Singles – Volume 62, No. 8, September 25, 1995" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Real Stuff": "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 11, April 29, 1996" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

For "Let's Shout (Baby Work It Out)": "Top Singles – Volume 67, No. 20, August 10, 1998" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[14] For "Voodoo Thing": "Top Singles – Volume 48, No. 25, October 8, 1988" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[15] For "Dream of Satin": "Top Singles – Volume 50, No. 23, October 2, 1989" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[16] For "Chicks 'n Cars (And the Third World War)": "Top Singles – Volume 50, No. 8, June 19, 1989" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[17] For "Back in My Arms Again": "Top Singles – Volume 51, No. 10, January 20, 1990" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[18] For "Just Came Back": "Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 14, August 18, 1990" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[19] For "Keep On Lovin' Me Baby": "Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 25, November 3, 1990" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[20] For "If You Lean on Me": "Top Singles – Volume 53, No. 21, April 27, 1991" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[21] For "Give It Up": "Top Singles – Volume 53, No. 10, February 9, 1991" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[22] For "Cadillac Baby": "Top Singles – Volume 59, No. 22, December 11, 1993" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[23] For "Surely (I Love You)": "Top Singles – Volume 59, No. 16, May 9, 1994" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[24] For "Breakin' Up the House": "Top Singles – Volume 59, No. 26, July 18, 1994" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[25] For "No More Doggin'": "Top Singles – Volume 60, No. 12, October 10, 1994" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[26] For "Stay": "Top Singles – Volume 61, No. 14, May 8, 1995" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[27] For "Freedom": "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 1, February 19, 1996" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[28] For "Saviour": "Top Singles – Volume 62, No. 8, September 25, 1995" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[29] For "Real Stuff": "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 11, April 29, 1996" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[30] For "Let's Shout (Baby Work It Out)": "Top Singles – Volume 67, No. 20, August 10, 1998" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[14] "Colin James". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2021.

[15] "Colin James in Corner Gas". Youtube.com. January 26, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2017.^{[dead YouTube link]}

[16] "Search Awards | The JUNO Awards". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved November 23, 2018.

[17] "Juno Awards/Canadian Music Hall of Fame winner and nominations". Juno-awards.ca. Retrieved November 26, 2006.

[18] "You oughta Juno: What happened to those artists voted most likely to succeed? Part 2 — 1986 – 1999". National Post, David Berry and Rebecca Tucker | March 14, 2015

[19] "35 years of excellence: 12 outstanding individuals honoured" (Press release). Government of British Columbia. August 5, 2024.

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