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.