World meet James. James is new to the world, only born at 9:35 this morning. Kath is well and Oliver is over the moon to have a little brother (he's taking this older brother thing very seriously). He's full of voice and has an enormous appetite to sustain this voice. And his father is over the moon. I was very nervous but once the little guy arrived I couldn't believe it - and frankly still can't.
James wasn't born on any famous musician's birthday like big brother Oliver (although I see that RL Burnside, Bruce Hornsby, Krzysztof Penderecki and Rose Simpson - happy birthday Pose, were born today). But he does share a name with many great musicians like: James Marshall Hendrix, James Patrick Page, James Hetfield, James Reeves, James Dean, James Honeyman-Scott, Homesick James, Elmore James, James Taylor, James Morrison, James (the band), James McCullough (who played with Wings - lovely guitarist but alas deceased) etc
I am therefore not short of songs to post on his birthday.
The bassist for a lot of the Motown tracks was a guy called James Jamerson - I remember buying a cassette of the Four Tops' greatest hits when I was on the border and being floored by the bassline on this track. James Jamerson was described by that other famous James (James Paul McCartney) as being the "great James J" - rather like the newest James on the planet.
Four Tops - Bernadette
Just as Oliver has Peter Green and Ollie Halsall as his musicians on his birthday, James will have a fluctuating number of James' along with a James Phillips track. Those who have never heard of James Phillips have missed out on one of South Africa's best musicians who unfortunately died in 1995. Including him is even more poignant because Phillips was a student of James' maternal grandmother Mary. (You can purchase almost all of his recorded work off the Rhythm Music Store.
09 - James Phillips - Rock And Rolls Royce -- Corporal Punishment
Welcome to our world James - it's now time for me to introduce you to your older brother who cannot wait to meet you. I can assure you that your mother and father are over the moon now that they have met you.