Jimmy James (8)

Canadian country singer-guitar player born December 19, 1935, in Montreal and died December 18, 2014, in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. For the Canadian blues guitar player, see Jimmy James (20). While born in the metropolis of Montreal, James Heinz' family had relocated to the northern community of Rouyn-Noranda when James was a youngster. Upon entering the entertainment world, James made a name change to "Jimmy James". Throughout his early career years Jimmy James would tour extensively in his home province of Quebec, where he was soon deemed a superstar attraction. Jimmy James was considered a Canadian teen singing sensation, even though he was 23 years of age at the time of his 1958 debut hit single "Teen-Age Beauty", released on Columbia Records (C4-41192), under the rock 'n roll group name Jimmy James & The Candy Kanes. The flip side of the debut disc was a song called "Marjolaine" which would later be re-issued on Arc Records. The "Teen Age Beauty" single would also be re-released by Columbia (C4-2603) this time with the rock 'n roll tune "Baby Sitter Rock" as the flip side. During his days on Columbia Records, and throughout his long career, Jimmy James would record and release material in both English and French languages. His Columbia singles included the French tunes, "Reviens Cherie b/w " Amour Brise" (C4-6765), "Tu Es Mon Seul Amour" b/w "Un Bouquet De Fleurs" (C4-6777); "Patricia" b/w "Donne-Moi Un Peu De Ton Amour" (C4-6787), and "Viens Me Voir En Revenant" b/w "Dans Mes Reves" (C4-6799). After his stay on Columbia Records, Jimmy James was signed to Canadian indie label Arc Records, releasing some six albums to the Canadian marketplace during the 1960's. His debut album for Arc was "Walking The Floor Over You" (A-620), followed by the LP's "I Remember You" (A-643); the French only album "Jimmy James" (A-667); "With A Song For You" (AS-692); and "The Eddy Arnold Songbook" (AS-695). Numerous singles were pulled from Jimmy James' Arc Records LP's, including "Victim Of Love" which charted at #6 on the RPM charts in 1965; "Everybody's Laughing At My Heartaches", which was a #2 chart hit; "Bottoms Up", which came in at #5, and the Arc re-issue of "Marjolaine" which scored a #1 hit on the charts for Jimmy James in 1965. James charted again in 1969 with his RCA single "They Used To Come Home Laughing", which peaked at #26. In the 1970's Jimmy James moved to Nashville to pursue his music career there but failed to create any substantial inroads on the U.S. music scene. He did record the album "To You With Love", released on his Kandy Records label (KP-1000). Recorded at Nashville's Hilltop Studios, James was supported on the sessions by ace musicians Johnny Gimble, Jerry Whitehurst, Jeff Newman, Jimmy Capps, etc. All ten songs on the album were written by Jimmy James, but apparently no singles were issued, and no airplay was generated. Meanwhile, back on the Quebec music scene the indie label Ranch Records issued the all-French album "Jimmy James - En Spectacle". Notwithstanding his extensive early career recording successes, he has virtually gone unrewarded and largely unrecognized by the Canadian music industry. Jimmy James passed away at age 79 in Nashville where he had long made his home.