Marion Agness James (October 8, 1934[1] – December 31, 2015) was an American blues singer and songwriter. She was considered Nashville's "Queen of the Blues".[2] Her career spanned 60 years, and she had a hit with a song she wrote, "That's My Man".[3]
James was born into a musical family in Nashville, Tennessee.[1][5] Her mother was the pianist at her local church, her sister sang with the Clara Ward Singers, and some of her cousins were professional musicians. James herself sought inspiration in listening to blues singers at vaudeville shows and from her mother's record collection.[5] James came to fame in the blues clubs of Jefferson Street in the early 1960s.[4] Before she earned the title of Nashville's Queen of the Blues, she was called "House Rockin James".[3]
Jimi Hendrix was a member of her band when he first started playing the guitar professionally, and she also had Billy Cox in her backing lineup.[2][5][6] In 1966, James had a top ten hit single with "That's My Man", a song she composed, released by Excello Records.[2][5] She continued to perform until the mid-1980s, when she took a break from traveling. By the early part of the 1990s, James had met Casey Lutton and joined his group, the Hypnotics. In 1996, Appaloosa Records released the album Marion James & the Hypnotics. After that, she shared the stage with many notable performers, including Chick Willis, Rufus Thomas, and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.[5]
In 2003, her album Essence was released by Soulfood Records. Among those playing on the record were Beegie Adair, Reese Wynans, Jack Pearson (The Allman Brothers), the bassist Bob Babbitt, and the drummer Chucki Burke.[5] Her album Northside Soul, issued by EllerSoul Records in 2012, reached number 10 on the Living Blues chart.[7] In 2013, she recorded "Back in the Day" at Washington's Jefferson Street Sound recording studios.[3][4] It recalled the time when Jefferson Street was lined with smoke-filled nightclubs, which played host to Little Richard, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and James.[4]
James helped retired musicians in need, by founding the Marion James Aid Society. In addition, for more than 30 years, she organized a Musicians Reunion Benefit.[3] She led a campaign to erect two statues, of Jimi Hendrix and Little Richard, on Jefferson Street.[7] Her career was highlighted in an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum entitled "Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues 1945–1970".[3]
James died on December 31, 2015, at the age of 81, in her hometown, from the effects of a stroke.[2]
^ abEagle, Bob L.; Le Blanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 154. ISBN978-0-31334423-7.
^ abcdApel, Kara (December 22, 2015). "Marion James, Nashville's 'Queen of the Blues,' Dies at Age 81". Wsmv.com. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
^ abcdeRau, Nate (January 19, 2015). "Marion James, Nashville's Queen of the Blues, Dies". Tennessean.com. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
^ abcdSanders, Forrest (December 22, 2015). "Friends Say Goodbye to Marion James, Music City's 'Queen of Blues'". Wsmv.com. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
^ abcdef. MusicCityRoots.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
^Roby, Steven; Schreiber, Brad (2010). Becoming Jimi Hendrix: From Southern Crossroads to Psychedelic London, the Untold Story of a Musical Genius. Da Capo. pp. 55–56. ISBN978-0-306-81910-0.
^ ab"Marion James". TheNashvilleBridge.com. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
^"Marion James: Discography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
marion, james, marion, agness, james, october, 1934, december, 2015, american, blues, singer, songwriter, considered, nashville, queen, blues, career, spanned, years, with, song, wrote, that, background, informationbirth, namemarion, agness, jamesborn, 1934, o. Marion Agness James October 8 1934 1 December 31 2015 was an American blues singer and songwriter She was considered Nashville s Queen of the Blues 2 Her career spanned 60 years and she had a hit with a song she wrote That s My Man 3 Marion JamesBackground informationBirth nameMarion Agness JamesBorn 1934 10 08 October 8 1934Nashville Tennessee U S DiedDecember 31 2015 2015 12 31 aged 81 Nashville Tennessee U S GenresBlues rhythm and bluesOccupation s Singer songwriterYears active1960s 2015LabelsVarious A flamboyant character James was known to sign her name adding The Blues Queen and often wore a tiara at her live performances 4 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 3 References 4 External linksLife and career editJames was born into a musical family in Nashville Tennessee 1 5 Her mother was the pianist at her local church her sister sang with the Clara Ward Singers and some of her cousins were professional musicians James herself sought inspiration in listening to blues singers at vaudeville shows and from her mother s record collection 5 James came to fame in the blues clubs of Jefferson Street in the early 1960s 4 Before she earned the title of Nashville s Queen of the Blues she was called House Rockin James 3 Jimi Hendrix was a member of her band when he first started playing the guitar professionally and she also had Billy Cox in her backing lineup 2 5 6 In 1966 James had a top ten hit single with That s My Man a song she composed released by Excello Records 2 5 She continued to perform until the mid 1980s when she took a break from traveling By the early part of the 1990s James had met Casey Lutton and joined his group the Hypnotics In 1996 Appaloosa Records released the album Marion James amp the Hypnotics After that she shared the stage with many notable performers including Chick Willis Rufus Thomas and Clarence Gatemouth Brown 5 In 2003 her album Essence was released by Soulfood Records Among those playing on the record were Beegie Adair Reese Wynans Jack Pearson The Allman Brothers the bassist Bob Babbitt and the drummer Chucki Burke 5 Her album Northside Soul issued by EllerSoul Records in 2012 reached number 10 on the Living Blues chart 7 In 2013 she recorded Back in the Day at Washington s Jefferson Street Sound recording studios 3 4 It recalled the time when Jefferson Street was lined with smoke filled nightclubs which played host to Little Richard B B King Jimi Hendrix and James 4 James helped retired musicians in need by founding the Marion James Aid Society In addition for more than 30 years she organized a Musicians Reunion Benefit 3 She led a campaign to erect two statues of Jimi Hendrix and Little Richard on Jefferson Street 7 Her career was highlighted in an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum entitled Night Train to Nashville Music City Rhythm amp Blues 1945 1970 3 James died on December 31 2015 at the age of 81 in her hometown from the effects of a stroke 2 Discography editAlbums edit Year Title Record label1996 Marion James amp the Hypnotics Appaloosa Records2003 Essence Soulfood Records2012 Northside Soul EllerSoul Records 8 References edit a b Eagle Bob L Le Blanc Eric S 2013 Blues A Regional Experience Santa Barbara California Praeger p 154 ISBN 978 0 31334423 7 a b c d Apel Kara December 22 2015 Marion James Nashville s Queen of the Blues Dies at Age 81 Wsmv com Retrieved January 2 2016 a b c d e Rau Nate January 19 2015 Marion James Nashville s Queen of the Blues Dies Tennessean com Retrieved January 2 2016 a b c d Sanders Forrest December 22 2015 Friends Say Goodbye to Marion James Music City s Queen of Blues Wsmv com Retrieved January 2 2016 a b c d e f Marion James MusicCityRoots com Archived from the original on March 16 2016 Retrieved January 2 2016 Roby Steven Schreiber Brad 2010 Becoming Jimi Hendrix From Southern Crossroads to Psychedelic London the Untold Story of a Musical Genius Da Capo pp 55 56 ISBN 978 0 306 81910 0 a b Marion James TheNashvilleBridge com Retrieved January 2 2016 Marion James Discography AllMusic com Retrieved January 2 2016 External links editMarion James at AllMusic nbsp Marion James discography at Discogs 2012 interview with James Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marion James amp oldid 1188423647, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
