JIMMY JAMES - Famous - The Slideshow

I forgot about this music video we put together for my song: FAMOUS from the album JAMESTOWN on iTunes, Amazon etc...

I wrote the song based on our cultures obsession with fame. BTW it was released before Lady Gaga's album. I did not copy her...lol

SAN DIEGO, CA SOLD-OUT

I played MARTINI'S ABOVE 4th in San Diego on July 3. I was SOLD-OUT! This is a very nice cabaret, restaurant with a bar that serves 50 different martinis! July 4, I drove back to L.A. There was NO traffic. I made a pit stop to Carlsbad. Seams like a beach town. I gotta Google this place. I hear they have nice beaches.

I drove all the way to my friend's house in Sherman Oaks in the hills where he was having a 4th of July party with a pool and karaoke machine inside. Food, fun & friends. I finally made it back to my apt at 1:50p.

STREETBAR in PALM SPRINGS STILL GOING STRONG!

Today I drove back to L.A. from Palm Springs, CA (2 hour drive). PS was about 108 degrees! Ouch!

Last night at STREETBAR was great. I was in such good voice. My 'Work In Progress' show has been going on for over 2 years - EVERY LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH. I have fun working out my new material and freshening up the classic material. There is no cover charge so the pressure is off, although, I always get nervous working out new material. I don't like to make amateur sounding mistakes. The bar owner is very happy with the revenues my show is bringing in. I'm happy to have a place to practice live! Very valuable to me. I did a similar gig like this in NY for 5 years ('95-2000). These kind of performance workouts fortify me as a performer. So when I play gigs where people are paying money, I really give them a good show with well practiced material. I'm fortified in my performance.

After the show last night I socialized for a bit and the owner asked if I would want to do my shows at 9p instead of 8p? I jumped for joy..."Yes!" I have always felt that 8p was a bit too early. 9p is going to be better from now on.

I took a quick dork pic of me "backstage" in the office/ liquor room before I went out on stage. I have such flashbacks to the days I did this at PIECES in the West Village in NYC.

My stays in PS are sponsored by CASA OCOTILLO. It was too hot to go outside (108 degrees) so I just stayed in my room watching TV and preparing the music set list for my show. Here's another dork pic of me just hanging out in my room.

Here's a my Set-List at STREETBAR June 24, 2014:

SUMMER SUN .... JIMMY JAMES
SUMMERTIME SADNESS....LANA DEL RAY
FIRE & RAIN.......CHER
DISCO DIVAS MEDLEY.....ALICIA BRIDGES, SYLVESTER, ANITA WARD, BETTE MIDLER, DONNA SUMMER & more...
60s GIRLS MEDLEY....CONNIE FRANCIS, LESLIE GORE, NANCY SINATRA, PETULA CLARK, LULU
SINGLE LADIES......LIZA MINNELLI
WANNA BE EVIL
SPANISH EYES CRY
FOR ALL WE KNOW......KAREN CARPENTER
8 DIVAS (DANCE REMIX)

After the show I escaped to Melvyn's restaurant hidden at the INGELSIDE INN. Amazing get-away from everything. A New York-like classy old school environment. Piano bar / dining area and they serve food until 11p! So instead of IHOP or Jack-In-The-Box, I find my way here. Gentle piano plays old school in one room while I dine next to it. I'm the only one in the room. The bar is open until 2am! I really like this place. They make a fantastic chicken pot pie bigger than JLO's ass. Shouldn't I have shared this with someone??? Oh well...

Before I left Palm Springs, I payed my respects to LIBERACE'S church. It's a lovely Catholic church. I prayed. I'm very Thankful for the blessings I have and have had.

 Getting ready for my gig in San Diego, CA. Love that town. I return to MARTINI'S ABOVE 4th where they serve over 50 different Martini's. Dinner / cocktails & me! A winning evening!

FIND ME

SO MUCH GOING ON! I get too superstitious to talk about it. However, I'm still not working on music and that bums me out. I need a producer who is VERY GOOD at making the beats so that I can write over that. Who wants to collaborate? Send me some samples of your work to: FULLBLOWNRECORDSINC@GMAIL.COM

Here's a list of dates that have just been compiled...More to come...
JUN 24 - PALM SPRINGS, CA - STREETBAR
JUL 3 - SAN DIEGO, CA - MARTINI'S ABOVE 4th
JUL 8 - SAN ANTONIO, TX - PRIVATE EVENT
JUL 12 - SAN ANTONIO, TX PRIVATE EVENT
JUL 28 - SAN DIEGO, CA - MARTINI'S ABOVE 4th
JUL 29 - PALM SPRINGS, CA - STREETBAR
AUG 3 - LONGMONT, CO - COORS CONVENTION CENTER (Fashionista fashion show)
AUG 17 - LOS ANGELES, CA - PRIVATE EVENT (Wedding)
AUG 26 - PALM SPRINGS, CA - STREETBAR
AUG 31 - MILWALKI, WI - ...........TBA
SEP 1 - LOS ANGELES, CA - PRIVATE EVENT (Labor Day Party)
SEP 17 - LOS ANGELES, CA - PRIVATE EVENT
SEP 30 - PALM SPRINGS, CA - STREETBAR
OCT 3 - SANTA FE, NM - PERF. ARTS CENTER
OCT 28 - PALM SPRINGS, CA - STREETBAR

HAPPY FATHERS DAY Dad :)
James Johnson
Gone since 1998 but never forgotten.
Follower of Martin Luther King, Jr. Worked at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Texas for years. Supporter of Equal rights in the work place. Good lessons.

FASHIONISTA LIVE AT MICKY'S IN WEHO!

 

JUNE 2, 2014

I am making my debut appearance at MICKY'S in West Hollywood to sing FASHIONISTA - Live!

For over a year this club has played my song as an overture to their drag shows on Monday nights. I'm very flattered. So I called them up and said, "hey, why don't I come in and sing the song myself to open the show?" They agreed. So if you're in the area come by. It should be a fun night. 10p.

And by the way watch out ABBY. You might be next. You've been playing my song too! LOL!

Isn't it about time I come sing it Live for you?!  How about 4th of JULY weekend? ;)

SAN FRANCISCO! PALM SPRINGS! WEHO! FASHIONISTA!

 MAY 23, 2014:

I AM FINALLY PERFORMING IN SAN FRANCISCO!

For my entire 30 year career San Fancisco has eluded me for some reason. I am playing at REBEL.

 MAY 27, 2014:

Continuing on to Palm Springs, CA. It's been my 2 year anniversary. Every last Tuesday of the month I work out my new material. There is NO COVER! I love getting in the trenches and working out the new songs or routines.

 JUNE 2, 2014: Kicking off Gay Pride in West Hollywood at MICKY'S Monday night show...

On Monday nights for over a year now in West Hollywood, CA there are 2 clubs that always play FASHIONISTA before their shows as an overture - The ABBY and MICKY'S! I'm flattered BUT I think it's high time I barge into MICKY'S and sing my song LIVE!  I finally have some time to let those bitches have it. I'm excited. The shows are fun there.

More stuff in the works...I've been in Texas scanning and scanning photos from my archives to save digitally. Stil working on making that documentary of my Marilyn Years. Let's see if I can give you some sneak peaks:
Only for you...

Test Polaroid for National Enquirer story Marilyn "Manroe" circa 1990.

Photographer unknown. Jimmy James as Marilyn Monroe. Backstage at The Pilgrim House circa 1987. Yikes! Don't tell anyone. Some of these images are special but unfortunately I only have the contact sheet. I try to scan at a high resolution so that I can see them better and reproduce.

Performing at The St. Regis Hotel for Sir Elton John's AIDS Foundation. I was so nervous. He was a little cold at first then he cracked a smile and seemed to start liking the show. This made everyone else like me. Afterwards he called me over to his table and kissed me on the lips! Yes THE ELTON JOHN! Hugged me and I have that picture too.

This is my sweet loving Mommie who came to visit me at Bally's Hotel Casino in the mid 80s when I worked in the show 'An Evening at La Cage' as Marilyn. I did this for 2 years until getting my break in Provincetown, MA Summer 1986. Getting my own show in Ptown was what really got my career cookin' and then later landed me on so many popular TV talk shows. I got fame fast because back in those days there were only 3 or 4 channels so I got ABC, NBC, CBS & FOX.

Wish I could show you more but I gotta get to bed.
xo
JJ

RING MY BELL

 I shot this little diddy at the WORLD OF WONDER studios in Hollywood.
Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Jybh8or_Unw