The James King Band in Europe 14 Nov. - 7 Dec. 2003
From the moment you first hear his voice, you know you are hearing bluegrass the way it was meant to be sung. James King sings bluegrass as only a handful of others before him - Carter Stanley, Red Allen, Del McCoury - ever have. Bluegrass Unlimited has called him "the most impressive lead vocalist to emerge in traditional bluegrass this decade".
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Line up: James King, Guitar, Vocals Kevin Prater , Mandolin, Vocals Adam Haynes, Fiddle Ben Greene, Guitar, Vocals Dan Wells, Banjo, Vocals Jerry McNeely, Bass |
The James King Band has been entertaining now for over 14 years and has been taking people by storm with their style of traditional bluegrass music. Whether it be a James King Signature ballad or a good ole foot stomper, James and the band really know how to make a crowd respond to their style and show. They get the crowd into their music and show in every form. The James King Band is based around the souldful sounds of James King's lead vocals. The high tenor harmony of Kevin Prater" and round out a wonderful vocal ability second to none in all of bluegrass.
Although James King was largely
unknown until his smash 1993 Rounder debut, "These Old Pictures",
King has been around the music all of his entire life. He was born near
the very heart of Bluegrass Country in the town of Martinsville, VA.
After a stint in the Marines, King began to pursue his musical career
in earnest in 1979. In the mid-1980s, King recorded tow albums along
with Ralph Stanley and his band for Webco Records, "Stanley Brothers
Classics" and "Reunion", which were followed by his debut
with his own band, 1988's James King Sings "Cold, Cold World."
But it wasn't until he decided to work on a project with Johnson Mountain
Boys' Vocalist Dudley Connell that he found his true voice, on what
Bluegrass Unlimited dubbed "the breakthrough album of the year."
King's startling power and emotional purity in his voice led to great
revies, live performances from coast to coast, and a 1995 IBMA nomination
for emerging Artist of the Year. James won the honor of being the 1997
IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year and the 1998 SPBGMA Traditional Male
Vocalist of the Year.
Kevin Prater was born
in Grundy, Va. and soon moved to Pike Co. Ky., Kevin started playing
guitar at the age of 7 and singing to crowds at local festivals. When
his family moved to Ky., he started playing banjo for his own group,
The Elkhorn Grass, which would last for over 10 years. This led him
to full time employment at Dollywood after high school. After the Elkhorn
Grass, Kevin worked in local bands around his home and kept up the local
festivals. Working with Curly Ray Cline's son, Timmy, was a step into
the band of Jerry Williamson and Redwing, which he started playing banjo
for and switched to mandolin. This led him to meeting James at a festival
and his becoming a James King Band member.
Adam Haynes was born
just outside of Norwalk, Ohio and raised in the Elyria, Ohio area. Adam
discovered bluegrass music at an early age. His fiddle playing started
at about age eleven playing along side his mom, dad and brother in a
family band. They traveled and played festivals and shows for several
years until at a festival where he met his Ky. Bride and married soon
after. He later would move to Ky. And look for music as his full-time
employment. Finally this would pay off by landing a job with the legendary
Melvin Goins and Windy Mt. He would stay for a brief stint until approaching
James for the job and starting in January 2002. Vocals are also a very
important part of his performing as well.
Playing bass for the James King Band is Jerry McNeely. Jerry is a native of Black Mountain North Carolina, nestled in the Appalachian mountains. He is a 10 year veteran of playing the upright bass professionally, covering styles of music from bluegrass to jazz to western swing. Jerry spent the last three years hosting "Goin across the mountain" for WNCW radio in North Carolina, covering a five state listening area.
Ben Greene comes from
Monroe, NC. His long musical career, and musical talents lend themselves
well to the group, as demonstrated on the band's latest CD, and on David's
new gospel project. His bluegrass roots run deep, largely due to his
Carolina upbringing, and were enhanced by his tenure in the 70's with
the late Charlie Moore. Ben then took a bluegrass haitus, while showcasing
his guitar playing skills with a country act for several years. Bluegrass
lured him back, and he joined forces with Allen Mills, Dempsey Young,
and Barry Barrier as a member of the Lost and Found for several years.
Ben also played with Continental Divide for a couple of years. He, like
David, had also stood alongside Don Parmley on stage as a member of
the acclaimed Bluegrass Cardinals. When not on the road with the band,
Ben loves to spend time with his family, fishing with buddy, Phil, and
especially with his canine companion, Shorty.
Dan Wells hails from
Sandy Mush. A small mountain community in western North Carolina. His
dynamic vocal range resembles the high lonesome traditional Stanley
sound. He sings all parts but comes into his own with his strong leads.
Previous Bands: The Carolinians and Carolina Road. Dan keeps a solid
rhythm on the flattop guitar
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Most arrangements are done by James and Kevin and former band member
Alan Pointdexter along with help form James wife Rennee and Record producer
Ken Irwin. The material is from a broad source of old country and bluegrass
from days gone by as well as new tunes by some of today's best writers
in bluegrass or country.
James King may be the greatest
"mountain soul" singer of his generation, bringing a deep
understanding of the hardcore bluegrass tradition to his hard-driving
blend of bluegrass and honky-tonk country music. "Thirty Years
of Farming", hist latest release on Rounder, is a fresh collection
of overlooked treasures and classics-to-be, each infused with the raw
emotion that has come to be his trademark. Here is one of the most exciting
sounds in bluegrass today.
Discography:
James King
Bed by the Window
ROUN0425, 1998
Lonesome and Then Some
ROUN0350, 1995
These Old Pictures
ROUN0305, 1993
Thirty Years of Farming
ROUN0490, 2002
Longview
High Lonesome
ROUN0434, 1999
Longview
ROUN0386, 1997
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Here's what Richard Hawkins wrote for BLUEGRASS IRELAND, The Irish Bluegrass Music Club newsletter, new series: volume 4, no. 7, Jan./Feb. 2003:
* * * * *JAMES
KING BAND IN EUROPE 1 -30 NOV. 2003* * * * *
A few years back, three legendary hard-core bluegrass bands-those of
Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, and J. D. Crowe-visited Ireland in the space
of six months. For the traditional bluegrass enthusiast, one event on
the same level would be a visit by the James King Band. Towards the
end of this year, thanks to A.R.T. Promotions of Switzerland, we have
a chance of such a visit.
The band consists of James King (lead vocals, rhythm guitar); Kevin
Prater (tenor vocals, mandolin); Adam Poindexter (banjo, baritone vocals);
Adam Haynes (fiddle); and Randall Hubbert (bass). The material is from
a broad source of old country and bluegrass from days gone by, as well
as new tunes by some of today's best writers. James King has made four
albums for Rounder Records-These old pictures, Lonesome and then some,
Bed by the window, and Thirty years of farming. He has also recorded
three CDs with the supergroup Longview (Longview, High and lonesome,
and Lessons in stone), as well as two with Ralph Stanley, a solo for
Webco Records, Cold cold world, and many recordings for Ray Davis's
Wango label.
But it's the music that counts, not the documentation. Rounder's blurb
on their website says: 'James King may be the greatest "mountain
soul" singer of his generation, bringing a deep understanding of
the hardcore bluegrass tradition to his hard-driving blend of bluegrass
and honky-tonk country music. Thirty years of farming, his latest release
on Rounder, which features King's touring band, is a fresh collection
of overlooked treasures and classics-to-be, each infused with the raw
emotion that has come to be his trademark. Here is one of the most exciting
sounds in bluegrass today! (http://www.rounder.com/Album.asp?catalog_id=6322).'
We endorse these sentiments. King is a terrific bluegrass singer, with
a band that matches his stature.
