Jony James Band

BIO:

The Jony James Band is:
Jony James – Guitar, Dobro & Vocals
Mike Wagner – Bass
Kent “Boom Boom” Leech – Drums, Vocals

Jony James is overflowing with soul. It drips down from his hands onto his guitar, in lyrically urgent bends and intense ethereal assaults. It pours out through his weathered, leathery voice, telling vivid, open-minded tales of a tumultuous life, with his impressive song writing skills. His jovial, yet pensive nature is evident in both his music and stage presence. He is often compared to Stevie Ray Vaughn, however, his persistance on being “Jony” and playing Jony James’, original “Survival Blues”, sets him apart from the rest of the Blues Shows currently on the circuit.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Jony was raised in Chicago, which was full of Blues, Motown and Soul influences. B.B. King, Albert King, Otis Rush, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix, were among those influences and are evident in his playing.
By the age of 17, Jony was playing Blues Clubs on the south side of Chicago, with local Blues legends such as Eddie Taylor, Willie Williams and J B Hutto, among others. After touring with Hutto and chasing Hendrix to Europe, Jony settled in Canada, playing with the Native American “Roadhouse Band from Six Nations” and finally the Matt Minglewood Band from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
In the 90′s, Jony returned to his birthplace, (Buffalo, NY) and began playing and writing his own material as well as being the front-man for the Jony James Blues Band, playing “Survival Blues”.
After independently producing and releasing three CD’s of original music, “Blue Wave Records” signed Jony.
The first Blue Wave CD, “In This World”, was released internationally and rose to #5 album of the year in “The Detroit Metro Times”. It was a tremendous success and catapulted the band into national recognition.
The second Blue Wave release titled, “What About Tomorrow”, is currently available and has got some heavyweights in the Blues Industry very excited. To experience original “Survival Blues”, you must listen to the Jony James Blues Band.
The band is available to play for Festivals and venues across the country.

PRESS:

“Killer in-your-face electric blues, centered around the renowned virtuosity of James’ guitar playing, and bolstered considerably by the seemingly telepathic interplay of rhythm section partners Wagner and Leech. If you were in the crowd of 30,000 when ZZ Top played Artpark, then you know JJB can work a crowd—even a crowd that is not its own—into sweaty submission. These guys brought it, big time. James has been doing the same for years. Modern electric blues can be trite, overtly formulaic, frankly boring. The JJB is the antidote to that tendency.” (Jeff Miers, The Buffalo News)

“There’s a new Experience in town and his name is Jony James. He approaches the Blues as if they were invented yesterday and are in need of a serious retooling today.” (Detroit Metro Times)

“Jony James is sheer dynamite!” (Winnepeg Free Press)

“Jony James plays some searing axe solos!” (Timmins Daily Press, Ontario)

“James can make a guitar do things some people dream about!” (Buffalo Alternative Press)

Offical Website:
JonyJamesBand.com