Meet The Band

Wednesday, February 28
2018

Kevin Hays – Keyboards

WHEN AND WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST GIG?
Well, I’m not sure if it was my first but early on in the mid-80’s, while still in high school, I landed a gig at a soul food restaurant in the meat packing district of NYC. As I recall it I would play for 6 hours, was paid $60 and got 50% off the ribs (theirs, not mine).

WHEN DID YOU START WORKING WITH JAMES?
I just started this past year, doing a couple of private gigs. This is my first tour with James, and I’m super-excited!

WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST TOUR?
My first tour was in 1986. I left Manhattan School of Music after being invited to go to Spain with a NYC band that was heading over there. It was very exciting to encounter all the new people, places, food and other wonderful things!

WHAT ONE SPECIAL ITEM DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE ON TOUR?
A netti pot. Gotta keep those nasal passages clear!

WHAT’S YOUR PRE-SHOW ROUTINE?
Enjoying the crudités backstage. And I usually take a little quiet time to get centered.

WHY DO YOU ENJOY TOURING WITH JAMES?
Well, this is my first tour with James but so far it’s been a joy. He has such open energy and a heart that shines through, musically and personally.

Monday, May 12
2014

Dean Parks – Guitar

WHEN AND WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST GIG?
It was playing lead guitar in a surf instrumental band in Burleson, Texas … at a Dairy Queen.

WHEN DID YOU START WORKING WITH JAMES?
The first time I worked with James, or at least his band, was the MusiCares Person Of The Year Tribute show in 2006. I was called in at the last minute to try to emulate his acoustic guitar parts for all the guest Artists singing JT songs in his honor. And all in the wrong keys. James only sang a couple songs at that show but in 2012 I joined the tour for a couple months playing electric guitar and pedal steel.

WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST TOUR?
That was with Sonny & Cher on their “comeback” tour in 1969. Which led to their TV show and actually led to my moving from Texas to Los Angeles. My first big studio gig in LA was on that show.

WHAT ONE SPECIAL ITEM DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE ON TOUR?
Guitar picks?

WHAT’S YOUR PRE-SHOW ROUTINE?
Eat, and get dressed.

WHY DO YOU ENJOY TOURING WITH JAMES?
The music first of all. And James is one of my guitar mentors. Listening to him was one of the ways I learned to play acoustic guitar. To have an inside-track view of his technique is a great thing. And the band is stellar. Plus the vibes are good.

Sunday, May 11
2014

Steve Gadd – Drums

WHEN AND WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST GIG?
My first gig was an appearance on the Mickey Mouse Club in California, 1957. (Editor’s note: In Steve’s 1957 appearance on the Mickey Mouse Club he both tap danced and performed a drum solo!)

WHEN DID YOU START WORKING WITH JAMES?
My first job with James was a recording session in the mid 1980s.

WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST TOUR?
My first tour was with the School Band of America in 1961

WHAT ONE SPECIAL ITEM DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE ON TOUR?
Running gear.

WHAT’S YOUR PRE-SHOW ROUTINE?
Going to the bus and taking a nap.

WHY DO YOU ENJOY TOURING WITH JAMES?
I like touring with James because the music is great and the hang is fantastic.

_{Photos: Spencer Worthly, Michael Drazdzinski}

Friday, May 9
2014

Jimmy Johnson – Bass

WHEN AND WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST GIG?
I joined the musician’s union when I was 13 years old and sometimes needed a note from my mom to get out of school: “Jimmy has a recording session today…”

WHEN DID YOU START WORKING WITH JAMES?
My first JT tour was in 1990. I was introduced to James by drummer Carlos Vega.

WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST TOUR?
My first traveling work as a musician was with Henry Mancini as early as 1974 / ’75. My first bus tour experience was with Michael Johnson (no relation) of “Bluer Than Blue” fame, probably in ’78 or ’79.

WHAT ONE SPECIAL ITEM DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE ON TOUR?
An umbrella?

WHAT’S YOUR PRE-SHOW ROUTINE?
Aside from pacing around a bit, I have no specific routine.

WHY DO YOU ENJOY TOURING WITH JAMES?
The great vibe of this band and crew is a reflection of our boss – it comes from the top down. It’s a pleasure to work with such a talented group of people sharing the goal of making good music for all to enjoy.

_{Photos: Michael Lutch}

Sunday, May 4
2014

Andrea Zonn – Vocals/Fiddle

WHEN AND WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST GIG?
My dad and I formed an acoustic folky band called FourthStream in my hometown of Urbana, IL when I was about 11. We used to play a couple of different venues on the U of I campus: Nature’s Table and Trino’s.

WHEN DID YOU START WORKING WITH JAMES?
The first time I sang with him, we didn’t actually meet. We sang harmony together on a song Maura O’Connell recorded, called Love Divine. Later, James came to pick me up at my hotel, and took me to his house to sing through some songs before my first gig. Ha!

WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST TOUR?
My first year with James was 2003.

WHAT ONE SPECIAL ITEM DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE ON TOUR?
Aside from comfy slippers, my must-have item is a small stack of violin music for practicing, which includes works by Bach, Ysaye, Saint-Saens, and Ravel. This does not mean I actually practice, mind you, but it does mean constant reminding that I should.

WHAT’S YOUR PRE-SHOW ROUTINE?
I like to spend about an hour getting ready before a show. Kate and I share a dressing room, and we tend to be pretty low-key. We usually listen to some music and hum along, or do vocal warm-ups, or just sit quietly, getting centered as we get ready. Unless one of us says something funny. Which is often. Because we’re really funny.

WHY DO YOU ENJOY TOURING WITH JAMES?
There’s just none better. As an artist, James is unsurpassed. As a human, the same is true. The band is unparalleled as well.

_{Photos: Michael Lutch, Elissa Kline Photography}

Saturday, May 3
2014

Dorian Holley – Vocals

WHEN AND WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST GIG?
At aged 14, I joined the Bob Mitchell Singing Boys Choir. It was an 8-hour a day, 6 days a week free school where we sang for our tuition and trained. We were on an episode of Marcus Welby, M.D. starring Robert Young.

WHEN DID YOU START WORKING WITH JAMES?
‘94, I think. The Monkey Bone Tour.
(Editor’s note: James’s spelling was: “Mon Que Bon”!)

WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST TOUR?
Shirley Jones of The Jones Girls. Maybe ‘82, ‘81. We opened for Frankie Beverly and Maze. I was out of my mind ecstatic!

WHAT ONE SPECIAL ITEM DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE ON TOUR?
The last 15 years I’ve been coaching on American Idol or singing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, so I have no idea what I’ll take.

WHAT’S YOUR PRE-SHOW ROUTINE?
I’ll warm up and get hyped. Often go around and wish my bandmates a good show.

WHY DO YOU ENJOY TOURING WITH JAMES?
The great James is super considerate and pays attention to people. Not every artist does that. Most of them don’t even know their band’s names. He honestly cares that the vocalists have a special place in the mix. That makes a huge difference in the kind of show the audience gets.

Thursday, May 1
2014

Kate Markowitz – Vocals

WHEN AND WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST GIG?
My very first paying gig was singing backup for a girl I met at college, in her cover band. I was 18. My first solo gig was singing and playing my Wurlitzer in a bar in Beverly Hills four nights a week, in my early 20s.

WHEN DID YOU START WORKING WITH JAMES?
April 1990. I first met him when I was hired to sing backup for a show in Japan, celebrating Earth Day with American, Japanese and Brazilian artists.

WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST TOUR?
Summer of 1990. First show: Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

WHAT ONE SPECIAL ITEM DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE ON TOUR?
You’re not seriously asking me for one item, are you?! OK, my Jerry Harvey (JH Audio) custom in-ear monitors.

WHAT’S YOUR PRE-SHOW ROUTINE?
I vocalize with Arnold’s “Vocalese” app and get ready (in the usual way girls do), thinking about the show and transforming myself into the performing part of me.

WHY DO YOU ENJOY TOURING WITH JAMES?
James still loves his audience and they love him back, and I get to be a small part of that.

_{Photos: Michael Lutch, Elissa Kline Photography}