James Harman

Blues singer and harmonica player James Harman was born in Anniston, AL, in 1946. In the early 1970s he settled in Southern California after having lived and played in Chicago, New York, Miami and New Orleans, and has been a part of the California blues scene since then. His recording career started in 1981 with "This Band Won't Behave", which he released on his own Icepick label. He signed with Enigma Records in 1983 and released "Thank You Baby". Four years later he went over to Rhino Records, where he released "Those Dangerous Gentlemens". The next year he jumped ship to Riviera Records, and released "Extra Napkins". It was in that same year that his song "Kiss of Fire" was used on the soundtrack of the Jodie Foster film The Accused (1988). That brought he and his band more exposure than they had previously had, and they capitalized on it by touring Europe and performing in a number of European blues festivals. The band gained a reputation for exciting and energetic stage shows, and in 1990 they released a live album, "Strictly Live . . . in '85". The band has been steadily performing, touring and recording since then.