About this Artist
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Grammy nominated singer JOSIE JAMES is equally at home on the concert stage or in the recording studio with a track record that has been praised by many.
She sings a wide variety of music influenced by R&B, gospel, pop and jazz. Jazz funk/fusion fans remember Josie James (“talk to me quick!”) as the lead vocalist of the original George Duke Band and sang on most of George’s albums including Duke’s latest release Dreamweaver.
Since embarking on a career in the music world as a singer, Josie has recorded and/or toured with Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and The Jacksons, Whitney Houston, Earth Wind and Fire, Philip Bailey, Phil Collins, Billy Ocean, Jeffrey Osborne, Quincy Jones, Patrice Rushen, David Foster, Ray Parker Jr., Howard Hewitt, Elvis Costello, George Michael, Ronald Isley, Burt Bacharach, and jazz icons Joe Sample, The Crusaders, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Clarke, Earl Klugh, Al Jarreau, and many others.
Josie’s recording and performance career was launched when she sang the lead vocal on What’s The Story from Patrice Rushen’s Before The Dawn album. Her next big break came when Stevie Wonder asked her to sing on his classic album, Songs In The Key Of Life. The second hit single from that album featured Josie on Another Star. Stevie invited her again to sing on his Hotter Than July and Secret Life Of Plants albums.
As one of the most sought after session vocalists in the business, Josie has been heard on many of the Top 10 albums and singles during the 80s and 90s. James appeared in the hit single Easy Lover video with Phil Collins and Philip Bailey, sang with Bailey on his multi-platinum Chinese Wall album, and toured Japan as his featured guest artist. Josie also performed with Japanese superstar Toshi Kubota on his Bonga Wonga Tour and concert DVD.
Josie James received a Grammy Award nomination for her performance of Street Life from the album Royal Jam with The Crusaders, B.B. King, and The London Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded live at Royal Festival Hall. Josie was also featured on Burnin’ Up The Carnival from Joe Sample’s album Voices In The Rain. She performed with George Duke and his All Star Band for the Nelson Mandela Freedom Concert, at London’s Wembley Arena in front of 100,000 people, televised worldwide. Josie was featured artist at the JVC Jazz Festival with guitarist Earl Klugh at the Hollywood Bowl, and has made several television appearances, including Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, Soul Train, NAACP Image Awards, BET Awards, and in England, The Jools Holland Show, the BBC One show, among others.
Josie’s own solo career commenced with her debut album, Candles, which was released in the UK and has been considered a jazz/pop vocal classic. Once Josie’s voice came to the attention of the legendary hit songwriter Burt Bacharach, she began performing around the world with Bacharach. As a featured vocalist for Burt over the past 10 years, James has performed at numerous Summer Pops symphony concerts, and several television specials, such as Sessions On 54th Street with Elvis Costello, McCormick Presents Burt Bacharach Tribute On Ice, Ronald Isley Meets Burt Bacharach on PBS, and the BBC Electric Proms at The Roundhouse, with Josie singing her memorable and popular version of the Bacharach/David classic, Anyone Who Had A Heart.
Josie has recorded on Burt’s albums At This Time and Live At The Sydney Opera House, with The Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Josie James performed as headliner with The San Diego Symphony singing The Music Of James Bond, London’s Jazz Cafe, The Bonaventure Hotel for 94.7 The Wave. Most recently, she performed with original George Duke Band members at Duke’s Memorial Tribute for Centric TV. Josie’s new album That Jazz, is available now on iTunes and all good download sites. Josie continues to tour worldwide with upcoming concerts in Japan, Europe, Australia, and the US. Be sure to check the Official Josie James website josiejamesmusic.com.