Colin James

Born in Saskatchewan in 1964, singer/guitarist Colin James became one of Canada’s most respected blues rockers in the ’90s, but his career essentially began by accident. In 1984, he filled in as a last-minute opener for Stevie Ray Vaughan. This led to touring with Vaughan, and the increased visibility led to a record deal. With a sound that mated modern rock and blues, James released his self-titled debut album in 1988 and became a frequent visitor to the Canadian charts. His biggest single was the Robert Palmer-ish 1990 rocker “Just Came Back,” which broke through in the U.S. as well. But in 1993, he started his Little Big Band project to play ’50s-style jump blues, a style he would return to periodically for years to come. By the mid-2010s, James had begun easing back on the rock and accentuating the roots, embracing his blues side more fervently than ever.