Warhol photo of Jimmy James
Photo: NY photographer Philip McClain
The metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies has nothing on Jimmy James whose career as an international singing sensation began with his natural talent for voice imitations of the rich and famous. Today, Jimmy James has hit singles and albums available on iTunes and a new album is in the works.
The single, Fashionista, from his first album, Jamestown, has
become a huge success all around the world. "I'm getting royalty checks from places like Mexico, South America, and Southeast Asia," Jimmy James said. "Hundreds of people have done
lipsync renditions of Fashionista and many of them have been posted on You Tube. That, to me, has been a highlight of my career."
Jimmy James has played gigs in places like Costa Rica, Mexico, and England in addition to his extensive touring of the United States. "My show is really geared for an American audience," Jimmy James explains, "so I prefer to play here." James, who once lived in LA, is working on a return engagement to the West coast in the near future. The return will be a first since he reinvented himself as a serious recording artist. When he lived in LA before, he was known for his uncanny impersonation of Marilyn Monroe, appearing on many national TV shows with hosts such as Joan Rivers, Geraldo, Sally Jessie Rafael, Phil Donahue, and Gary Collins.
Jimmy developed his unusual ability at voice impersonations and gained national recognition with his take offs on such stars as Eartha Kitt, Bette Davis, Barbra Streisand, Patsy Cline, Judy Garland, and Madonna. "Right now I'm working on some new impersonations and plan to retire some of the older ones," Jimmy James said. He "retired" Marilyn some time ago.
Jimmy once opened for Eartha Kitt and George Burns in Vegas. Meeting Miss Kitt backstage, Eartha said to him, Ï hear you do a voice impersonation of me. Maybe that's why I have such a bad reputation." Without batting an eye, James slipped into his Kitt voice and replied, "No, Eartha, you're the reason you have such a bad reputation." They have met several times since then at New York parties.
The Jamestown Album has seen two of its cuts become hit singles in remixes. In addition to Fashionista, his song Kissing a Fraud has been a huge success. The ballad version of that song often has the audience in tears when Jimmy James sings it live. He writes his own lyrics which he says are truthful and often ironic. Set to dance beats, the music requires several
listenings to get to the meat of his lyrics. Kissing a Fraud in the ballad version brings the touching lyrics to life. Another cut from Jamestown that has gotten a lot of play is the upbeat Summer Sun, reminiscent of Jimmy's roots in San Antonio, Texas.
Success did not come easy for Jimmy James who says that his ambition was always to be a singer/songwriter. "At first the record labels didn't take me seriously because they had me pigeon holed as a comedian and impersonator. Finally one label took me on and I got to begin fulfilling my lifelong dream." A dance group on America's Got Talent performed to Fashionista. It was placed on You Tube and got over 200,000 hits before the network had it removed. "One of the You Tube versions of Fashionista has received over a million hits," James says, "and You Tube doesn't count hits on videos unless they are played to the end."
A lot has changed for Jimmy James since he played the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Feinstein's, Sudio One Backlot, and other LA venues. When he returns it will be a whole new persona that has been seen in such places as the Waldorf Astoria in New York and Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore. It is time to come back to LA, Jimmy James, Jimmy James.
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