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Soul singer Jimmy James - born Michael James in Brown’s Town, Jamaica on September 13, 1940 – was best known as the leader of Jimmy James and The Vagabonds. Before fronting the group, he worked as a solo artist in Kingston, Jamaica with producers such as Coxsone Dodd and Clancy Eccles. Jimmy James’ biggest early solo hit was “Come to me Softly” (1962). Meanwhile, The Vagabonds formed in 1960 and they eventually began to work with Jimmy James before they relocated to England in 1964. Within weeks, the band recorded their debut album, Ska-Time, but released it under the band name Jamaica’s Own Vagabonds. The album was one of the earliest ska releases to be recorded in the UK. The group began working with manager Peter Meaden, who booked them high profile gigs with bands like The Who and Steampacket (featuring Rod Stewart). Jimmy James and The Vagabonds played several other high profile shows and festivals and began to build a following. Signing with Pye Records, they released The New Religion in 1966 and continued to play live support gigs with The Rolling Stones, Sonny & Cher, and many others. Later that year, they released a split live album with The Alan Bown Set entitled London Swings: Live at the Marquee Club. In 1967, Jimmy James and The Vagabonds reached number 53 on the UK singles chart with “I Can’t Get Back Home to My Baby,” which was bettered by their 1968 single “Red Red Wine” (number 36). The group continued to be a popular live draw and issued two albums in 1968: This is Jimmy James and the Vagabonds and Open Up Your Soul. There was also a compilation released that year, Come to Me Softly, which was issued to capitalize on the group’s success. Two years later, The Vagabonds split up but Jimmy James, who owned the rights to the name, formed a new version of the group and continued to play live. While not as popular in the 1970s, they continued to release albums including You Don’t Stand a Chance If You Can’t Dance (1975), Now (1976), and Life (1977). The group embraced disco and funk and enjoyed hit singles with 1976’s “I’ll Go Where Your Music Takes Me” (number 23) and their biggest hit that same year with “Now Is the Time,” which rose to number 5. Jimmy James continued to tour with various Vagabonds line-ups and recorded occasionally but never achieved the same commercial success that they experienced in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Retiring in 2021 due to a heart condition and Parkinson’s Disease, Jimmy James died on May 14, 2024, at the age of 83.
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