James BIO
James Williams - Musical and Acting Biography - 1973 - 2011
James started learning the guitar at the age of 12 in Rockhampton in Central Queensland, he then began performing live with his sister, winning talent competitions at the age of 14, by 15 he was a regular performer in the Rockhampton country music club, playing acoustic guitar and singing, at the same time he joined his first band, firstly a school rock band, then about six month later a semi-pro band with the average age of 25, playing bass and backing & some lead vocals
James regularly performed in clubs and hotels around Central Queensland by the age of 16, both in the band as bass player/vocalist and by himself, playing guitar and lead vocals solo acoustic, whilst still going to school.
He then finished high school and started work in his apprenticeship, continuing to perform around Rockhampton, when he finished his apprenticeship, he moved to Brisbane, working in the trade both for other watchmakers and then his own business, all the while continuing to work in bands on the weekends, as lead singer and bass player, or working through a Brisbane based agency performing in clubs, hotels, shopping centres etc, both solo acoustic and with backing tracks
At the age of 26 professional musicianship called James and he left his day job to become a pro muso; as Lead singer bass player in a Brisbane based pro band, which was also the backing band for a three girl floor show working extensively throughout Queensland and NSW, playing in pubs and on the same circuit as another well known singer guitarist Keith Urban from Caboolture, hmmm Music or Watchmaking.
At the age of 28 James became involved with a number of Indigenous actors who worked for a Professional Theatre Company in Brisbane who were developing a children’s play for primary school children, he then went on the write the music score for the play, and played the main character in one scene and a support actor in the other four scenes. Working extensively for the Queensland Government touring through many schools and Indigenous communities in Queensland at this time, it was James’ full time job for two years and the show toured the Coming out Festival in Adelaide, and most of Australia.
At the age of 30 James and his wife moved to Sydney, where he focussed on his IT career and the family, but continuing to work as a solo artist for two Booking agencies in Sydney, working regularly in Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong, other areas around Sydney and Western parts of NSW
Moving to Melbourne 6 years ago James continued to raise his family, the kids are now 12 and 7 years of age), now doing regular weekend work as a solo artist working for Westside Talent at Werribee using Midi backing with a good quality stereo PA system, playing the Maton acoustic the Fender Stratocaster or Epiphone Elitist to play lead to get a full band sound.
To quote James on his current music: "I am also the guitarist in a Melbourne based Jazz band, we just finished recording an album of Jazz classics, it is great band with beautiful singer, Double bass, Drums, Keys and Tenor & Alto Sax, the bassist and myself sing a number of songs as well".
"I am currently working on my original material, I will be recording soon, starting this year 2010, I am also currently sourcing (preferably Indigenous), session musicians, this could be a bit tricky as I play many styles of music, I may need to get my current band to work on my Jazz stuff, so keep an ear out"
James started learning the guitar at the age of 12 in Rockhampton in Central Queensland, he then began performing live with his sister, winning talent competitions at the age of 14, by 15 he was a regular performer in the Rockhampton country music club, playing acoustic guitar and singing, at the same time he joined his first band, firstly a school rock band, then about six month later a semi-pro band with the average age of 25, playing bass and backing & some lead vocals
James regularly performed in clubs and hotels around Central Queensland by the age of 16, both in the band as bass player/vocalist and by himself, playing guitar and lead vocals solo acoustic, whilst still going to school.
He then finished high school and started work in his apprenticeship, continuing to perform around Rockhampton, when he finished his apprenticeship, he moved to Brisbane, working in the trade both for other watchmakers and then his own business, all the while continuing to work in bands on the weekends, as lead singer and bass player, or working through a Brisbane based agency performing in clubs, hotels, shopping centres etc, both solo acoustic and with backing tracks
At the age of 26 professional musicianship called James and he left his day job to become a pro muso; as Lead singer bass player in a Brisbane based pro band, which was also the backing band for a three girl floor show working extensively throughout Queensland and NSW, playing in pubs and on the same circuit as another well known singer guitarist Keith Urban from Caboolture, hmmm Music or Watchmaking.
At the age of 28 James became involved with a number of Indigenous actors who worked for a Professional Theatre Company in Brisbane who were developing a children’s play for primary school children, he then went on the write the music score for the play, and played the main character in one scene and a support actor in the other four scenes. Working extensively for the Queensland Government touring through many schools and Indigenous communities in Queensland at this time, it was James’ full time job for two years and the show toured the Coming out Festival in Adelaide, and most of Australia.
At the age of 30 James and his wife moved to Sydney, where he focussed on his IT career and the family, but continuing to work as a solo artist for two Booking agencies in Sydney, working regularly in Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong, other areas around Sydney and Western parts of NSW
Moving to Melbourne 6 years ago James continued to raise his family, the kids are now 12 and 7 years of age), now doing regular weekend work as a solo artist working for Westside Talent at Werribee using Midi backing with a good quality stereo PA system, playing the Maton acoustic the Fender Stratocaster or Epiphone Elitist to play lead to get a full band sound.
To quote James on his current music: "I am also the guitarist in a Melbourne based Jazz band, we just finished recording an album of Jazz classics, it is great band with beautiful singer, Double bass, Drums, Keys and Tenor & Alto Sax, the bassist and myself sing a number of songs as well".
"I am currently working on my original material, I will be recording soon, starting this year 2010, I am also currently sourcing (preferably Indigenous), session musicians, this could be a bit tricky as I play many styles of music, I may need to get my current band to work on my Jazz stuff, so keep an ear out"