James Govan

Infobox musical artist |
Name = James Govan
Img_capt = James Govan, on his latest album "I'm In Need"
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = James Govan
Alias = Little OtisFact|date=September 2007
Origin = McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
Instrument = Percussion
Genre = R&B, soul
Occupation = Singer, songwriter
Years_active = 1980's - present
Label = Charly, Overture

James Govan is an American R&B soul singer. His most recent album, "I'm in Need" was released in 1996. He has also performed alongside such artists as The Boogie Blues Band and Charlie Wood. James Govan has become one of the favourite musicians in Beale Street known for his cavernous baritone voice. [cite web |url=http://www.porrettasoul.com/1997/stars/index.htm|title=The Porretta Soul Festival - The Stars|accessdate = 2007-02-18] As of 2007 he is actively performing at the Rum Boogie Café.Fact|date=September 2007

Biography

Early life

James was born in McComb, Mississippi and by age 13 was playing the guitar. [cite web |url=http://www.mnblues.com/review/2001/bealestreet601-th.html|title=MN Blues|accessdate = 2007-02-13 ]

Career

James has been performing at Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee since 1989, performing vocals and percussion. Since 1994 James has performed regularly with the Boogies Blues Band at the Rum Boogie Café, Beale Street. In this time they've won the Best House Band on Beale Street three times by the Beale Street Merchants Association and they have headlined the BSMA awards for the 2002-2004 Awards Ceremonies.

James and fellow musician Don Chandler both received a key to the City of Memphis for their contribution to the music scene in Beale Street over the previous 15 years. Such an honor has not been received by any other musician on Historic Beale Street.

James is the hero of the Porretta Soul Festival, Tribute To Otis Redding, Italywhere he performed from 1993 to 1997.The latest live performance album by James Govan and the Boogie Blues Brothers was released in 1999, entitled "A Night on Beale". This commemorates 10 years of performing on Beale Street.

Rum Boogie themselves claim that their commitment to Memphis music 7 days a week makes Beale Street "Home of the Blues, Birthplace of Rock n Roll" [cite web |url=http://www.rumboogie.com/music.htm|title=Rum Boogie Cafe|accessdate = 2007-02-13]

Discography

Albums

* 1996: "I'm In Need"
* 1998: "A Night on Beale" (feat Boogie Blues Band)
* 2003: "Eyes/Dangerous" (percussion) (credited) [cite web |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,2513972,00.html|title=Tony Joe White: Eyes/Dangerous|accessdate = 2007-02-15 |format= |work=]

ee also

*Rum Boogie Cafe
*Beale Street

References

Further reading

*cite book
last = Bird
first =C
title = The Jazz and Blues Lover's Guide to the U.S.: With More Than 900 Hot Clubs, Cool Joints,...
publisher =Addison-Wesley
date = 1991
*cite book
last = Bearden
first =W
title = Memphis Blues: Birthplace of a Music Tradition
publisher =Arcadia Publishing
date = 2006
*cite book
last = Harrison
first =J
title = Elvis As We Knew Him: Our Shared Life in a Small Town in South Memphis
publisher =iUniverse
date = 2003