James Solberg

James Solberg was born in Superior, Wisconsin, in 1951. Attending elementary school and Junior High in Eau Claire, Wis­consin, he moved with his family several times. At one point they shared a duplex with Robert Zimmerman (Bob Dylan) and his family, in Hibbing, Minnesota. In 1963 Solberg began his musical career playing in a top 40 radio band. Between 1971 and 1973, James was playing with his own band, Dynamite Duck. '74 and '75, it was The Solberg Brothers Band, with his brother Chuck on piano. Also during this time James began to play with Luther Allison. An immediate band was formed between the two guitarists based on mutual admiration and a love of the Blues! Thanksgiving Day 1981, worn out, disillusioned with the music business, and heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol, James retired to the Wisconsin North Country for a long rest. In 1985, after going through a successful treatment for his drug and alcohol ad­dictions, James began touring with the legendary Blues Band. In 1987 Solberg began touring with The Nighthawks (3), replacing Jimmy Thackery, and also formed The James Solberg Band. In early 1993 an old partnership with his friend Luther Allison, who had been living in Paris, was renewed. James met Luther at Ardent Studios in Memphis, to assist in the recording of a new record. In 1994 Luther Allison asked James Solberg to be his band leader. In addition to touring the U.S. and Europe with Luther, James managed to find time to record his debut solo album "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean", released on Atomic Theory / Flying Fish. In August of 1997, Luther Allison died of cancer. Two months after Luther's death, James was in the studio writing and recording his third solo album, "L.A. Blues". "L.A. Blues" is Solberg's farewell to Allison.