I came back to LA Jan. 9, 2012.
I had a restful time in San Antonio at Mom's house. I keep a room there and have it configured very similar to my room in LA. It helps me to have familiarity of where I put things and kinda know where everything is so that the transition between places is easy.

My 2nd annual Christmas show Dec. 22, 2011 at The Bonham Exchange was a success again. My business doubled from last year. Maybe they'll have me back again next year. I appeared on local FOX KABB NEWS FIRST. They promoted me like a rock star. They promoted my Christmas album (now on iTunes) heavily as well as my Bonham show. I did some quick voices on camera from the the album and then when they came back from commercial break I did the Bette Davis 'Feliz Navidad' (with the wig & cigarette) live on camera. They played the show out with that.

Now I'm back in LA. I just finished a private event in Palm Springs at The Hilton Hotel this past Saturday. I also had a meeting at a local club there because I'm looking for a place to try out new material and have fun doing it. I'm looking for a place casual enough for fun but still conducive enough for live singing. Things are looking good. I'll announce it if it comes through.

SAN ANTONIO, TX CHRISTMAS SHOW! 12/22/11

 Home for the Holidays!
December 22, 2011 / 8pm

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/213314

This will be my 2nd Annual Christmas Show in my hometown of San Antonio. Last year was a blast and I'm planning a different show this year. I'll be doing a few Christmas songs from my recently added Christmas album to iTunes but I'll be doing a regular show including a new tribute to Amy Winehouse. Hope to see you there.

CHRISTMAS DREAMS COME TRUE

So Proud to Announce for the FIRST TIME EVER my

CHRISTMAS ALBUM IS NOW AVAILABLE ON iTUNES!

 I've wanted this to happen for so long but before uploading it, I wanted to include a bonus track of a song I wrote back in 1998 after my father passed away from Cancer.

I called up my friend / legendary music producer/arranger, Bob Esty here in Los Angeles who has worked with Cher, Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer and many more.... in fact every time you hear "Last Dance" or "Take Me Home" - it's Bob Esty's musical arrangement and production!

I called him up to ask if he could make my wish come true, and he said YES! Along with David Arana, Bob Esty and I went to work in the studio. My dream came true! The little song I wrote came to life with the magic of Bob Esty and David Arana.

I performed the song for the first time this past Dec. 9th at The Cavern Club Theater at Casita del Campo in Los Angeles for my Christmas show. Bob Esty was in the house. I introduced him and everyone cheered. I sang the song live and it got ovations. It was a super fun night with friends and fans and newcomers alike who just wanted to check out my show.

So look up my Christmas album in iTunes. Play it at your parties and don't tell them right away who it is. Just let them wonder. I hope you enjoy the bonus track "First Christmas Without U" dedicated to my Dad Jim Johnson, and to anyone who has had to face that First Christmas without a loved one being there. Peace.

FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT U

Lyrics: JIMMY JAMES / Music produced & arranged: BOB ESTY, DAVID ARANA

IT'S COMIN' ON CHRISTMAS SOON

AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE MOOD

GOT A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR

I GOT EVERYTHING I WANT AND SO MUCH MORE

BUT YOU'RE NOT HERE WITH ME

AND THOSE MEMORIES HANG ON THE TREE

BUT AS LONG AS YOU'RE MISSING

I'LL BE WISHING THAT YOU WERE HERE WITH ME

Chorus:

AND I KNOW THE SNOW'S ON THE WAY

BUT STILL IT WON'T BE THE SAME

WHAT AM I GONNA DO

ON THIS FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT U

EVERYONE'S FEELING THE JOY

AND THE CHILDREN ARE WAITING FOR TOYS

I DON'T WANNA BE DOWN

NOT WHEN SANTA CLAUSE IS COMIN' TO TOWN

AND I KNOW I GOTTA BE STRONG

SOMEHOW LEARN TO MOVE ON

BUT AS LONG AS YOU'RE MISSING

I'LL BE WISHING THAT YOU WERE HERE WITH ME

Chorus

Chorus

11/15 & MORE...WEEKEND SHOPPING SINGING & JUDGING

Nov. 15, 2011 Tuesday:
I did my show at Casita del Campo. I had a great audience. I was in excellent voice. I even sang "Evergreen" for the Streisand voice. I rarely ever do this number because it's toooo hard. I got 2 standing ovations. Sold a lot of merch. My longtime friend/designer Michael Schmidt showed up. with Moniker Mgmt's Diana Coney. Also the talented male actress Jackie Beat came with writer Muffy Bolding, actress Selene Luna, actor/club impresario Mario Diaz,  entertainer Calpernia, star trainer Craig Ramsay, legendary music producer Bob Esty and more people from music, television and film. Although I was kinda feeling a little low, the audience really picked me up and I had a great time.  November 15 holds memories that I try to ignore. But I won't go into it.
http://www.michaelschmidtstudios.com/
http://missjackiebeat.com/
http://seleneluna.com/site/
http://www.monikermgmt.com/mainmenu.html 
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0225019/   (Mario Diaz)
http://www.calpernia.com/
http://amprofile.blogspot.com/2011/02/bob-esty-has-worked-with-some-divas.html (Bob Esty)  
http://www.craigramsayfitness.com/     


Nov. 20, 2011 Saturday: 
Woke up at Billy's. We went shopping. He bought a BIG Karaoke Machine so that we can all sing at his Thanksgiving party. Only problem is...the neighbors! He also bought a big refrigerator for his back porch patio and a bunch of stuff at Bed Bath & Beyond.

Billy rolling out the Karaoke Machine to put in his car. That's the owner Faye (R) who sold the machine and lots of Karaoke CDs. She wants her dolly back. http://singingstore.com/

 Nov. 21, 2011 Sunday:
Sunday Morning I woke up in Sherman Oaks at my friend Billy's house. He has a room there for me to get away. I go up to the mountain, I hear Paula Abdul lives on his street, maybe I'll go Christmas caroling at her house.  It was pouring rain & cold this Morning! In L.A. most people don't know how to handle this weather but it was so refreshing and cool. The rain cleans the air. We need that.  I stumbled out of bed like Dolly Parton without her wig and went to the kitchen. I love using Keurig 1 cup-at-a-time coffee maker.  I discovered Emiril's Big Easy Intense coffee - so good.  Billy bought it yesterday at Bed Bath & Beyond. I like a good strong coffee. Even though it's bold and intense, it had a slight hickory smooth overtone - not bitter at all.

http://www.coffee.org/products/view.php?item=347

It was so hard for me to figure out how I would muster the energy to go out tonight but I had a commitment to judge a "Cabaret Idol" contest at The Hollywood Bar & Grill on Sunset and Gower. Even though I just wanted to date Emeril and kick it down a notch with some coffee and chill out. Billy brought KFC original recipe. OH LORD... I have not eaten this stuff in over a year. I've kinda been eating vegan lately - not 100% but leaning towards it somewhat. I had a small amount  of KFC and tried not to think about the investigative report by Brian Ross at ABC NEWS expose on the Sparboe facility in Vincent, Iowa. They showed the chickens are unsanitary and gross and McDonalds pulled out of their contract with the facility. The chicken wing I ate had broken bones. The chicken is not healthy. I'm grossing myself out...yuk. Whenever I eat vegan, I never feel tired or bloated. Eating vegan makes me feel nourished.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/mcdonalds-dumps-mcmuffin-egg-factory-health-concerns/story?id=14976054#.TsuEuPHFgvo

6:30pm I eventually took my flesh-eating body down to judge "Cabaret Idol" and I was so entertained with the  talent of the contestants. The contest is weekly every Sunday at 7pm but I only judged this one night. I sang "8 Divas" with a live piano player and drums. I think I did pretty good. I got a rousing ovation. Everybody was very nice to me.
https://www.facebook.com/cabaretidol

Late night snack: Ranch corn nuts and Good n Plenty licorice candy...Very VEGAN.

CHRISTMAS SHOWS!

I am so excited to announce that I will be doing my Christmas show at Casita del Campo's CAVERN CLUB THEATER for the first time! December 8 & 9, 2011. The last of the jewel case Christmas CDs will be available at the show before it all goes digital on iTunes. The artwork on the CD (front & back is by Alvaro in New York City). http://cavernclubtheater.com/

I am also going to do my 2nd annual Christmas show in my own hometown of San Antonio, TX at The Bonham Exchange Dance club - December 22, 2011. Tickets available very soon at BROWNPAPERTICKETS.COM

I will sing some excerpts from my popular Christmas album as well of some, not so Christmas songs. In the past when I've tried to do a show with only Christmas songs, it felt too boring. So I will do a well rounded show with a sprinkling of Holiday Cheer.


Hope you can make it!

Front of my Christmas CD. Beautiful artwork by Alavaro NYC.

Back of my Christmas CD. Artwork by Alvaro. It's kind of a Marilyn Snow man...lol.

 ONE NIGHT ONLY!

The last time I did my show it was sold-out. I'm coming back to do my AWARD WINNING New York Show! Lots of Voices, Comedy, a couple of my own songs and video presentations.

Hope you can make it.

LETTER TO LISA. WORKS FOR MY BLOG TOO

Hey Lisa,
I'm frantically packing to go to Palm Springs tomorrow.
I'm judging a Drag contest called "Broadway In Drag" @ The Palm Canyon Theater. I'm doing 1 promo number Cher - "Memory"

Saturday, Nov. 5 I do a 2pm 30min show at the Pride outdoor festival.
8:00pm I do The Purple Room. I saw Ross' name in the ticket sales - Thanks :)

I got flyers to promote AND the cutest FASHIONISTA bracelets which act as the ticket to get into The Purple Room. I LOVE the bracelets. I'll have to mail you a couple.

Sunday, Nov. 6  I do an early Morning guest appearance with THE REAL Carol Channing for PBS "IN THE LIFE."

Monday Nov. 7  I go back to L.A.  whewwww.....

My networking in Los Angeles and the West Coast feels like it is finally starting to build like I had it built it up in NYC.

Oh, and just a few days ago I contacted Bob Esty (music producer for Cher "Take Me Home" and other songs... he's also produced Donna Summer "Last Dance" Striesand "Enough Is Enough" also Weather Girls "It's Raining Men." etc... he's great. I've known him for many years. I sent him my acappella vocals of a song I wrote called "First Christmas Without U." I want him to produce the music so when I upload my Christmas album early December, I can add it as a bonus track. I'm VERY excited. I'm a big fan of Bob Esty! He's big time and I'm lucky to know him. He's a great guy.
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bob-esty-p74520/credits

Last Saturday, Oct. 29  (Halloween wkend) I performed as Ursula the Witch  with a black guy dressed as the Little Mermaid. It was so much fun! I sang "Poor Unfortunate Soul."
After I did the Ursula thing I went into FASHIONISTA in the Ursula drag...lol!
It was SUCH A FUN PARTY! My friend Billy Butler produced it and paid for it.
About 500 people were there. Everybody was in a great mood and just having fun!

I actually drank Jack Daniels on the rocks! Can you believe it? You know I never drink.
After the show that night I got to meet Tara - Pat Carol's daughter!
Pat Carol is the voice of Ursula in the Disney movie "Little Mermaid." That was so cool.

Ursula & Tara! Pat Carol's daughter after my performance. Her Mom Pat Carol did the original voice for Ursula. You gotta watch it on YouTube. It's the ONLY voice for Ursula. I was all too happy to use my lower register of my voice for the character. Jack Daniels is good for the low voice...lol. That white thing in my dress is a big fan that opens up.

I only know Billy in this picture (the pirate next to me). You can see what he really looks like on his Facebook. William Butler. I did not recognize him at first in his costume.

Me singing as Ursula the Witch "Poor Unfortunate Souls." Lower left corner The Little Mermaid Bruce Daniels...lol

This is only some of the stuff I've been up to lately...and btw, I'm soooo late in writing in my Blog, so if you don't mind I'm going to copy and paste this email into my Blog. I've been so busy lately -
15 hour days! That's Hollywood.

Love to U & Linda xoxo
JIMMY

P.S. You girls have been so good to me. Whenever you want me to do another party for you. Just ask. I would be happy to perform in your home again. Your Oct. 7 party was a blast! xo

P.S.S. The Kardashians are whores!

P.S.S. Ursula "Poor Unfortunate Souls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyFVG4VfPmg