spotlight | OLIN catapulted night. “tt hasn't been overnight, t've been doing this for a jong time.” said Canada’s hottest blues rocker, rolling his eves. By the time he was [4, the bahy-iaced James, now 25, had al- ready toured his native Saskat- chewan, playing guitar in a local bluegrass band. He leit his Regina home at age 16 and moved to Winnipeg to play the folk festival circuit. then travel- led to Montreal and eventually to Vancouver, where he plaved for change on street corners. But when the chance for fame did come at age 20, James pounc- ed on it. Two separate incidents helped propel his career from near ano- nymity to success and security: both involved guitar hero Stevie Ray Vaughan, who James hooked up with after returning to Regina from Vancouver, where he felt let down by experiences in the music scene. A loca! promotor asked him to open for guitar wizard Vaughan. Without a band or manager, James called up some musicians and showed up at the concert hall without rehearsing. The drummer was late — under the misapprehension that they were to play a bar mitzvah. After breaking two strings in the + first number, James choked back screams of frustration. Then his guardian ange!, Vaughan, who has watching from backstage, handed him one of his guitars. That was the beginning of james’ apprenticeship with Vaughan; the Texas-based blues guitar virtuoso took him on a tour of Canada and Catapulting to fame takes JAMES is clearly tired of hear- ing the charge that he to fame over- brought him onstage in perior- mances throughout the U.S. Said James: ‘He (Vaughan) took a real liking to me. It was a real boost — a kick start. Stevie Ray said ‘I’m opening the door for you. Walk through it.’ tn 1987, Vaughan convinced representatives trom Virgin Re- EVELYN JACOB spotlight feature cords to see the boy wonder play. Ata sold-out concert at Van- couver’s Town Pump, James leapt off the stage onto Virgin execu- tives’ table. Knocking over their drinks, the livewire delivered a sizzling guitar solo on their table and unwittingly clinched a multi-record deal with- Virgin. One year later, his career was as good as gold and hetter in Canada. His self-titled debut album, which produced the hit single Voodoo Thing, reached platinum standing with Canadian sales of 100,000 copies. The same year James won the Juno award for most promising male vocalist. Since then the coiffed-haired James has toured almost non-stop, periorming with Steve Winwood, Little Feat and Keith Richards. “We refer to it as the endless tour. It hasn’t really stopped. We've been on the road for 311 days,’ says James’ manager Stephen Macklam, who first met the young singer busking outside a Vancouver liquor store. Despite the rigors of touring, HAR T7TANGC RANA AN BZJIAY 1 VIS ON BURNABY e« MOUNTAIN _»VHERE DINING AND ATMOSPHERE IS 0” a “ 100 CENTENNIAL WAY, BURNAB FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 299-1155 - land DINNER @ LUNCH Please join us for our spectacular brunch and omelette bar on BOXING DAY James seems wide-eyed and energetic. His secret: 20 cups of coffee a day. ‘Colin isn't tired.” notes Macklam, ‘he’s tiring.” Last month james recorded the basic track for his second album at Vancouver's Little Mountain Stu- dias, which he will finish in pro- ducer foe Hardy's Memphis Stu- dios. Careful not to give too much away. James says it will feature lots of surprises, ‘It’s going to be a killer, tt will have a lot more con- tinuity and rock harder than mv fast album,”’ he savs. Alter Memphis lames returns to his base in Vancouver tor a New Year's Eve bash at North Snore Studios, his first Vancouver per- formance this year (and next), al- though he did jam with the Rolling Stones during their Vancouver concert at the request of Keith Richards. Now standing at the crossroads to both fame and fortune, some observers have dubbed him the next Bryan Adams. But Macklam says that comparison is pre- mature. “He's not as big as Adams. He’s got a long way to go yet. This is only his second record. “He’s very well known but a long way from being a big star in the U.S.” His powerhouse performances to date, however, combined with a secure record deal, have James placed highly on the ladder to in- ternational success. he “Bridge House 3650 C2pilano “Road, “North Vancouver 987-3388 . across from Capilano Suspension Bridge 25 - Wednesday, December 20, 1989 4 CANADA'S HGTTEST rhythm and blues guitarist, ~ Norta Shore News a long, long time ~ NEWS Terry Pot Colin James, picked up 2 guitat al age 13 and was touring by the time he was {4. Now, the Juno-eward winning James is on the brink of international fame. RESTAURANT A NEW YEAR’S EVE 5:00 pm EARLYBIRD SITTING $24.00 per person (for those not staying past 7:30 pm) 4 course gourmet meal 8:00 pn GALA DINNER PARTY $50.00 per person 6 course gourmet meal, magic show featuring Bruce Bissell the Magician, dancing, noise makers... FOR RESERVATIONS PHONE 987-3388 ep Restaurant