James Anthony Band - James Anthony Profile (2023)

1955- Born at Toronto Western Hospital on a Monday August 8 12:01, and I hear it was raining…..I guess thats a good start for a blues guy.
1964-66- Got My first Guitar a Harmony Archtop with really thick strings and brutally high action.I think my dad won it at the Barber shop in a poker game. Another great start for a blues guy. Learned country tunes and folkie stuff like Ledbelly and Sonny and Brownie. Roy Clark was huge on my list. Saw some bands in Italy and that did it.
1967-1970- Played at grade 7 Dance and was hooked from then on. Played with high school soul bands and then started playing legions and High Schools for Money…..Ontario Place too.
1971- Joined (Jay Douglas) the Cougars and played Reggae before anybody even heard of it. Lots of sessions West indian and Reggae recordings. I believe I’m the first white guy to do this in this country..Ask Jay?
1974- The last version of Edward Bear, James Ackroyd, Many soul bands and one nighters. Blue grass too 7 Nights a week!
1976- Jammed with Rick James at the Colonial Tavern on Younge Street. More local Soul bands and then a few Blues bands all over the Toronto Area. Air Port Strip. Juno winner Patricia Daulquist at Ontario Place and Night Clubs.
1977-1980- Grizzly Bear Blues band begat Footloose that begat Mondo Combo. One album on RCA and Massey Hall gig. Played full-time. First band to play live on Q107 all over the GTA on a Saturday night. Mostly clubs and venues.Lots of travelling.
1980-90- Went country and played with most of the Canadian stars. Played guitar on CFGMs Opry North Radio Show. Backed hundreds of Country Stars. Did some TV work. More Road. Every town in Canada maybe? Moved to Cambridge and joined Lulus Kats band in Kitchener 1990. Backed up over 200 music legends. Put out my first Cds Nite School and Play Something you Know! and Cable TV show The Midnight Hour for 5 years. Won Best Music Show in 96 on Rogers Cable.
1997-2000- Lulus was over so I recorded with Denny Doherty and many more. Won Fender-Coca Cola Guitar Warz in Toronto. More Cds to follow " Soul Shoes”, Played in Azores, Santa Maria.
2000-2005- "Room For Me" and Acoustic CD "All Spruced Up. Festivals and Europe. Hungary for 2 weeks.
2006-2010- Played in Dublin Ireland with CD release there..More Local House gigs. TV show on Cogeco "James Anthony Live".
2010-2016- Casinos, Summer Festivals, Clubs. Inducted into American International Blues Hall of Fame 2013 in Detroit.