- Boney James
James "Boney James" Oppenheim, (born
September 1 ,1961 inLowell, Massachusetts ) is a saxophonist who popularizedurban jazz (an updated version of contemporary jazz that contains elements of hip-hop).Boney James is a two-time Grammy nominee and a Soul Train Award winner. He has accumulated three RIAA certified Gold records. His current and tenth CD, "Shine", debuted at #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts, #6 on the R+B chart and #44 on the Pop Chart. James produced the CD as well as wrote 9 of the songs.
James has produced remakes of classic soul songs, such as
Chaka Khan 's "Sweet Thing,"Stevie Wonder 's "Creepin'" andBill Withers ' "Ain't No Sunshine (When She's Gone)". In addition, he collaborated with trumpeterRick Braun on an album called "Shake it Up". Their duets include "Grazin' in the Grass," which had been previously performed by theFriends of Distinction andHugh Masekela . Other collaborations on "Shine" includeFaith Evans ,George Benson ,Dwele ,Esthero andPhilip Bailey .Some James originals include "The Total Experience", "Metropolis," "After the Rain", and "Here She Comes."
Born in
Lowell, Massachusetts , he took up the clarinet at the age of eight and switched to sax when he was 10. Boney James started his teen years inNew Rochelle, New York , as aMotown fan, which has contributed to his "musical influence and soulful R&B style." . He was influenced by popular saxophonistGrover Washington, Jr. . When James was 15 his family moved to Los Angeles, where he joined a fusion band which had some success opening for acts likeFlora Purim and theYellowjackets . Another member of this early band was John Shanks, now a successful pop producer. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?JSESSIONID=F6d346c550W86WShC5zqNfBpqhp32JMqtSHnl9Xh9kzbmRM2PhbW!-1963287997&pid=32152 Biography in Billboard Magazine] ] .He received a history degree from UCLA, but began playing music full-time after graduation. He took up the keyboards and in 1985 played in Morris ("What Time Is It?") Day's band for four years. His R&B influence was strengthened by seven years of touring and sessions as a sideman with artists like Day, the
Isley Brothers ,Bobby Caldwell ,Randy Crawford ,Teena Marie and many others.In the early days, after joining
Bobby Caldwell 's band, he caught the attention of the engineer/mixer & producer Paul Brown. In 1992 he released his debut album as leader ("Trust") and was signed by the Warner Brothers label in 1994. In 2006 James moved toConcord Records and with the release of "Shine" achieved his career highest Billboard chart position.In 2008, James recored a song with American Idol finalist
Syesha Mercado , entitled "Gonna Get It," which was written by James himself and Rahsaan Patterson. It is currently available in the iTunes Music Store.He is married to actress/director
Lily Mariye of television's "ER."Discography
* "Trust" (1992)
* "Backbone" (1994)
* "Seduction" (1995)
* "Boney's Funky Christmas" (1996)
* "Sweet Thing/It's All Good" (1998)
* "Body Language" (1999)
* "Shake It Up" w/Rick Braun (2000)
* "Ride" (2001)
* "Pure" (2004)
* "Shine" (2006)
* "Christmas Present" (2007)ee also
*
Steve Cole References
External links
*Official|http://www.boneyjames.com
* [http://www.obnoxiouslisteners.com/album/boney-james/ Obnoxious Listeners Review of Boney James]
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