Colin James

Biography

Colin James (born Colin James Munn; 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.

Early years

James was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. His grandfather was Serbian. James quit school in Grade 10. James got his break in his music career opening for Stevie Ray Vaughan in Regina 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 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". James also played guitar on Richard Marx's song "Thunder and Lightning".

Rock, swing and blues career

In 1987, James won the CASBY Award for "Most Promising Artist". In 1988, following his association with Vaughan, James released his self-titled debut album, which yielded several international hit singles, as did the follow-up Sudden Stop. 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, with a follow-up gold record in 1998, 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.
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×Limelight13 September 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Better Way to Heaven3:462Watchin' the River Flow4:513Limelight3:524Far Away Like a Radio4:545On My Way Back to You4:126When I Write the Book3:417Misplaced Heart4:228Speakeasy3:549Healing Time5:1410Travellin'4:2011Shadow of Love4:0912It Fills You Up4:5313Weeping Willow Tree4:3214Into the Mystic4:25 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.
In 2009, James recorded the album Rooftops and Satellites×Rooftops and Satellites6 October 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Man's Gotta Be a Stone3:352Wavelength4:253Lost Again4:094Johnny Coolman3:195Love Is Calling3:356Find My Home4:297Stronger4:208Corrina4:039More Than You Needed3:4910Better Than I Can Imagine3:2711Photography4:0712If You've Gotta Go Go Now4:05 with, among others, Junkhouse frontman Tom Wilson. The album was co-produced, engineered and mixed by Mike Fraser, at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver. Rooftops and Satellites reached #69 on the Canadian Albums Chart.
James' 2016 album Blue Highways×Blue Highways14 October 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Boogie Funk3:122Watch Out4:393Big Road Blues3:024Bad Bad Whiskey3:595Going Down3:376Gypsy Woman3:507Goin' Away4:328Lonesome2:059Hoodoo Man Blues2:4810Riding in the Moonlight / Mr. Luck2:5711Don't Miss Your Water4:0212Ain't Long for Day3:1813Last Fair Deal2:42 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.

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)

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)
Bonnie Raitt - "give it up" (1990)
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)

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.

Juno Awards

James has been nominated for 17 Juno Awards, winning seven of them.

Wins

1989 – "Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year"
1991 – "Single of the Year" for "Just Came Back×Just Came Back1990 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Just Came Back4:53A2Chicks n CarsB1Cross My HeartB2Down in the Bottom"
1991 – "Male Vocalist of the Year"
1996 – "Male Vocalist of the Year"
1998 – "Best Blues Album for National Steel×National Steel29 July 1997 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Shout Baby Shout3:212Rollin’ Stone3:263National Steel5:004These Arms of Mine4:485Going Up to the Country4:156Fixin’ to Die4:327Somebody Have Mercy3:378Postman’s Sack1:489Please Baby3:4810Ride & Roll2:4311I Live the Life I Love3:4512My Mind Is on Vacation3:3713Before the Dawn4:3114Kind Hearted Woman2:40
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×Miles to Go21 September 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1One More Mile3:232Still a Fool4:013Dig Myself a Hole3:234I Will Remain3:07540 Light Years4:186Ooh Baby Hold Me3:277Black Night4:428Soul of a Man3:209See That My Grave Is Kept Clean3:0310I Need Your Love So Bad3:5211Tears Came Rolling Down3:4712One More Mile (acoustic)3:00"
2022 – Blues Album Of The Year for “Open Road×Open Road5 November 2021 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1As The Crow Flies4:252Can't You See What You're Doing To Me3:323That's Why I'm Crying5:044Open Road5:095Change It4:166Raging River4:227Leave This House3:298It Takes Time3:089There's A Fire4:4110It Takes A lot to Laugh, It Takes A Train to Cry2:4711Bad Boy3:3212Down On The Bottom4:3613I Love You More Than Words Can Say4:42”

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×Colin James and the Little Big Band II23 June 1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Jumpin' From Six to Six2:542Safronia B2:163Mary Anne3:354Let's Shout (Baby Work Out)3:125You Know My Love3:286I'll See It Through3:467C'Mon With the C'Mon2:588Rocket to the Moon3:439Think3:5210Somethin's Goin' on in My Room2:3611I'm Lost Without You3:0512Tin Pan Alley4:2713Triple Shot4:0014Oh Babe3:37
2007 – "Blues Album of the Year" for Colin James and The Little Big Band III
2013 – "Blues Album of the Year" for "Fifteen×Fifteen12 June 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Sweets Gone Sour4:012I'm Diggin'3:313Fool for You3:254Shed a Little Light4:035I Need You Bad4:116Love for Life4:317Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley3:568Jealous Guy4:009Finally Wrote a Song for You4:3710No Time to Get There3:2211Stone Faith3:1812Oh Well3:4913Shoulder to Cry On2:56"
2017 – "Blues Album of the Year" for "Blue Highways×Blue Highways14 October 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Boogie Funk3:122Watch Out4:393Big Road Blues3:024Bad Bad Whiskey3:595Going Down3:376Gypsy Woman3:507Goin' Away4:328Lonesome2:059Hoodoo Man Blues2:4810Riding in the Moonlight / Mr. Luck2:5711Don't Miss Your Water4:0212Ain't Long for Day3:1813Last Fair Deal2:42"
2019 – Blues Album Of The Year for “Miles To Go×Miles to Go21 September 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1One More Mile3:232Still a Fool4:013Dig Myself a Hole3:234I Will Remain3:07540 Light Years4:186Ooh Baby Hold Me3:277Black Night4:428Soul of a Man3:209See That My Grave Is Kept Clean3:0310I Need Your Love So Bad3:5211Tears Came Rolling Down3:4712One More Mile (acoustic)3:00”
2022 – Blues Album of the Year for Open Road×Open Road5 November 2021 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1As The Crow Flies4:252Can't You See What You're Doing To Me3:323That's Why I'm Crying5:044Open Road5:095Change It4:166Raging River4:227Leave This House3:298It Takes Time3:089There's A Fire4:4110It Takes A lot to Laugh, It Takes A Train to Cry2:4711Bad Boy3:3212Down On The Bottom4:3613I Love You More Than Words Can Say4:42

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.