BLACK TIE PERFORMANCES & ASS-WIPE

FLASHBACK: JIMMY JAMES as BETTY PAGE

This was at the famous NY underground club 'JACKIE 60' At the corner of 14th St. & Washington. Back then known as The Meat Packing district because it's where they packed meat. You could smell it.

 I don't remember how I figured out how to move like Betty Page. There was no YouTube to guide me. I freeze the screen and can find cool glimpses of her. I like my performance here. It was 1 year before retiring Marilyn so I know I was experimenting with other personas and looks. I can't  remember who made my outfit? I do remember the see-through coat was given to me by my friend famous designer Michael Schmidt. He was always innovative with his use of unusual fabrics. He has designed for Cher, Tina Turner, Aero Smith and most recently Dita Von Teese with his 3D dress.

MARCH 2:

I performed for THE 60th DIANA FOUNDATION in Houston, TX. Black Tie affair at The Royal Sonnesta Hotel. Main Ballroom.

They are a charitable organization helping the GLBT community for years even when it was not popular to do so. http://thedianafoundation.org/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

I know a lot of people in Houston. There are some great people there. I consider it the New York City of Texas. I had a blast.

SET LIST for The 60th Annual DIANA AWARDS.

(Named after the the goddess of hunting 'Diana' in case you're wondering)

March 9:

I performed at the 70th Birthday party for Danne King, inventor of DMK COSMETICS. A revolutionary foundation made with a silicone base that DOES NOT melt off your face. It is beginning to become very popular with Television and Film people. You don't even need to powder it down. You just blot the sweat and NO NEED for powder! I now wear this foundation for all my shows. http://www.dmkcosmetics.com/

I lost my temper on stage as this old man was trying to rush me off the stage after my 2nd number. I did not know who he was but I let him have it from the mic. He was threatening me with a fight. "I'll take care of you over here..." he said. I was so pissed. Who the hell is he to rush me off the stage? Later in the evening I went up to him and said "Do you realize I was HIRED to perform here?!" He said he did not know. He was yelling at me saying "I've been in this business longer than you've been alive blah  blah blah..." I said "I don't give a shit! You were interrupting my job! ASS- WIPE!" He started chasing me but I ran. Meanwhile nobody really knows what's going on as they stop me to say "oh you were wonderful...you're so talented...where can we see you perform?" etc...

BTW: Nobody really knew this was going on. They were all busy after the show talking and mingling. They did not know that ASS-WIPE was hating me and wanting to kill me. He kept saying in his senility "You don't know who you're dealing with!" For any of you who wanna know who ASS-WIPE is here's a link:

http://www.hankgarrett.net/

I DON'T CARE WHO THE FUCK YOU ARE...

DON'T INTERRUPT MY SHOW THAT I'VE BEEN HIRED TO DO. ASS-WIPE!

Grumpy the Cat

MY 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! OSCAR WEEKEND!

HAPPY OSCAR WEEKEND!
I'm on my to Palm Springs, CA. I'll be performing at STREETBAR this Tuesday 8pm. No Cover. My show is a work-in-progress. I'm building a new show. As always, for me, building a new show is a process - an evolution. All of my shows are crafted. I don't just hodge-podge a show. Everything in my show is carefully thought out and inserted for a reason

 MY 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN SHOW BIZ!

 Photo from The San Antonio Express Newspaper 1983.

In the early 1980s I struggled to get a job in my hometown of San Antonio, TX. Nobody would hire me because I looked too young or feminine for a boy. Finally I got a job working at The GAP in a mall. After a couple of years there, I got another retail job working for a store called JUDY'S. But by February 1983 I decided to leave the JUDY'S  job and embark on a career as an entertainer. I took a mental note of that date - February 1983.  I was already getting recognized for my local TV appearances like PM MAGAZINE or the local news or magazines for my impersonation of Marilyn Monroe. I was tired of the retail jobs and I was anxious to see if I could make it with just my talent.

I was terrified to take the leap but I did it. I was afraid of what my parents would think. What if I failed? So much of the unknown was ahead of me but with blind faith and believing in myself, when no one else did, I found a way. I worked hard and eventually made appearances on ALL national major network television shows. The ride has been amazing and beyond my wildest dreams. And the ride continues. I had nothing to fear but fear itself.

Believe in your own magic.

If you want, check out my soundcloud and leave comments. There are some FREE downloads.
https://soundcloud.com/jimmy-james-3

ALSO...I have lots of music on iTunes too.








 

JIMMY JAMES HOSTING UPRIGHT DISCO SHOWS

JIMMY JAMES Hosting!
"UPRIGHT GOES DISCO"
http://www.uprightcabaret.com/events/2012/12/25/upright-cabaret-goes-disco/
Click link for show dates, venues & times.

ALSO:

January 29, 2013 / Tue.

JIMMY JAMES 

"A WORK IN PROGRESS" 

STREETBAR 

Arenas St. Palm Springs, CA

8p / no cover

PRESS RELEASE CHRISTMAS 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
DECEMBER 11, 2012

JIMMY JAMES PERFORMS LIVE at
The BONHAM EXCHANGE!411 Bonham
San Antonio, TXDEC. 20, 2012 / 8pm
Tkts: $15. advance online / $20 at the door
BROWNPAPERTICKETS.COM 
A portion of all proceeds to benefit St. Jude's Childrens Hospital.

Back for his 3rd Annual Christmas show: "JOY TO CHRISTMAS"
Singer-Songwriter, Recording & Tribute Artist will again astound audiences with his vocal prowess.
A native of San Antonio, James set out to New York City & Los Angeles in the mid 80's to search for his dream to become an entertainer. Soon he became a darling of the talk show circuit with numerous television appearances on CNN, ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, E!, DONAHUE, GERALDO, SALLY, JOAN RIVERS and others...

He attracted international attention as the world's best Marilyn Monroe impersonator. To this day his natural-like uncanny recreation of the iconic star is even to this day unchallenged by anyone. James was an actor who played the part live! He could actually sing and talk like her! But by 1997 he retired the 'Marilyn' part of his show to evolve as an artist and broaden his horizons into song-writing and recording and to expand his increasingly popular repertoire of Voice Impressions. Today his show includes vocal tributes to: Cher, Elvis, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, Stevie Nicks, Amy Winehouse, Shriley Bassey, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Macy Gray, Bette Davis, Eartha Kitt, Patsy Cline and so much more...

The Jimmy James Show today also include a couple of his own original songs, one of which became a world wide hit and rose to the top of the BILLBOARD charts entitled 'FASHIONISTA.' The song comes from his original album JAMESTOWN (iTunes, Amazon). James has performed for celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Elton John, Demi Moore, Patti LaBelle, Jane Seymour, Cyndi Lauper, Boy George, Debbie Harry, George Burns, Eartha Kitt, Norman Mailer, John Waters and many more...

James has recorded and released 5 albums and 5 singles in 10 years - a feat rarely achieved by even by most established recording artists. Jimmy James music is available on iTunes including his Christmas album: "HAVE YOURSELF A JIMMY JAMES MERRY CHRISTMAS."

Please credit photo with black gloves.
Photo by: Dusti Cunningham

The Set-List:
JOY TO CHRISTMAS 2012
JIMMY JAMES ............................ FAMOUS
SHIRLEY BASSEY ...................... HISTORY REPEATING 
EARTHA KITT ............................. I WANNA BE EVIL
AMY WINEHOUSE ...................... LOVE IS A LOSING GAME
MADONNA .................................. SANTA BABY
CHER ........................................... BLUE CHRISTMAS
LIZA ............................................. SINGLE LADIES
JUDY GARLAND......................... HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
ELVIS ........................................... DON'T BE CRUEL
JIMMY JAMES ............................ FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT U
BARBRA STREISAND ................ EVERGREEN
JIMMY JAMES ............................. FASHIONISTA
BETTE DAVIS .............................. FELIZ NAVIDAD

DECEMBER GIGS! 2012

DECEMBER 13, 2012 ATLANTA, GA!

After more than a decade away, I'm finally coming back to perform in Atlanta, GA! 

Atlanta is like the New York City of the South. It's filled with great people and great energy. I have fond memories of my time in ATL. Wild. Fun - maybe sometimes too much fun...lol. From what I understand this is a prestigious room and I have some special numbers planned.

 MIXXATLANTA.COM

 DECEMBER 20, 2012  SAN ANTONIO, TX

JOY TO CHRISTMAS!

My 3rd Annual Christmas Show at The BONHAM EXCHANGE in San Antonio, TX.

I'll be performing on the main dance floor. Limited seating but lots of room. 

Come have fun with me in my hometown. 

Showtime: 8pm (approximately 70 minutes long)

$15. advance online / $20. at the door.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/303363

AS GOD IS MY WITNESS...ATLANTA!

 After more than a decade! I return to Atlanta!
Atlanta truly holds fond memories for me. I'm very excited to be going back to Atlanta, GA. It's been more than a decade since I've played there. Atlanta is an incredible place but I find myself at a loss now. So many friends I've had in Atlanta are gone. Either moved away or died. Or they are off my radar. But out of the blue a past friend contacted me on Facebook and is going to pick me up at the airport and let me stay at his house. I'm traveling alone to ATL so an old friend will be a nice thing.

DECEMBER 13, 2012
MIXX Nightclub:
http://www.mixxatlanta.com/

David Magazine Interview (Atlanta):
http://davidatlanta.com/2012/11/jimmy-james-marilyn-mixx/

LITTLE TOUR, LITTLE TOUR

Nov. 16 & 17 I started out at CASITA del CAMPO in Silverlake, CA. My new multi-media show 'HISTORY REPEATING.'  It rained. It poured and in LA when that happens most people do NOT like to leave their homes. Nonetheless, I had respectable houses and standing ovations. Pre-show music videos play before the show to entertain the audience from the moment they walk in. As the show unfolds, every performance is enhanced with video visuals.

Tue. Nov. 27 I drove to Palm Springs with a fun new assistant (Benn Mendoza). Everybody was in love with him. He helped me keep it together. He sold merchandise after the show. I did my Christmas show at my once-a-month at STREETBAR on Arenas St. 8pm.  The place was packed and we had fun. Ran into a lot of old friends from my past.

 Benn Mendoza wearing the Tshirt on our way to STREETBAR.

Shot at The WARM SANDS VILLAS who is my sponsor for accommodations in Palm Springs.

Wed. Nov. 28 we drove to San Diego. Almost ran out of gas because I never looked at the gage. Checked into The Sommerset Suites. Room 108.
Thur. Nov. 29 I performed at MARTINI'S ABOVE 4th. The restaurant, cabaret, martini bar was packed solid. I did my show with a sampling of Christmas songs from my Christmas album on iTunes. What warmed my heart was a sailor telling me that on the ship, he and his buddies would listen to 'SUMMER SUN' from my JAMESTOWN album as well as 'OLD SCHOOL DISCO.' He mentioned that his mom plays my album all the time and has been telling all her friends about me.

ALSO...people were buying my Christmas album for my original song "First Christmas Without U." I included "First Christmas Without U" as a bonus track on my Christmas album at the last minute before uploading it to iTunes. I wrote it in '98 after my Dad died from Cancer. But it was not produced until last year by Bob Esty who has worked with Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer and Cher. The show was packed! Basically Sold-Out! The owners said they want me back.
It's a nice place serving dinners and over 50 different Martinis. 

 

 'Martini's Above 4th' San Diego with Benn at Sound Check rehearsal.  The stage is in the distance with the piano on it. 

After the show in SD. Do I know how to find my light or what?! Haha...

Nov. 30 We had some Indian food. Then headed back to LA. Rainy. Drizzly.  I was exhausted. I got a call from my friend actress, comedian, writer Nadya Ginsburg asking me if I could do her makeup tomorrow morning as Madonna for a pilot she was working on. I agreed because I still love makeup. Makeup & dance classes were my first love when I was just starting out in my early 20s - until Marilyn "interrupted" everything. I love the art of transformation.

Dec. 1 I got up at 6am to prepare the makeup and be at Nadya's house at 8am. It's kinda fun painting someone else instead of myself. Below is the before & after:

Nadya Ginsburg as herself.

Nadya Ginsburg as Madonna.