FM
Biography
James was born in Salford, England. His parents, who worked in the textile industry, loved music and always had music on around the house. While his parents were at work, he was looked after by their friend Mary Holland. Mary’s husband, Les, worked in a cotton mill and ran a kazoo band and Ra Ra girls with his family and friends to perform at the Oldham Carnival every year. When “Uncle” Les started a Harmonica Gang, he gave James a harmonica and James would sit and watch the rehearsals whilst waiting for his parents to collect him after work.
His parents bought him a guitar when he was 8 years old and the seed was sown. He first heard blues music and joined a blues band by about 11 years old. About this time he saw many blues artists and blues tours that came to the Manchester and Oldham area and subsequently played in various local bands playing Blues, R & B, Soul and Motown music.
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