William "Billy" James (April 20, 1936 – November 20, 2009) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

drummer.

Career

James was born and raised in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

. He began performing jazz at the age of 15.

Career

James worked with

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles M ...

and

Booker Ervin Booker Telleferro Ervin II (October 31, 1930 – August 31, 1970) was an American tenor saxophone player. His tenor playing was characterised by a strong, tough sound and blues/gospel phrasing. He is remembered for his association with bassi ...

in the 1950s, and in the early 1960s with James Moody,

Candido Camero Candido is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name * Candido Amantini (1914–1992), Italian Roman Catholic priest * Candido Camero known simply as "Candido" (1921-2020), Cuban percussionist * Candido Jacu ...

Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...

Sonny Stitt Edward Hammond Boatner Jr. (February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982), known professionally as Sonny Stitt, was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of his ...

, Don Patterson, and

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Edward F. Davis (March 2, 1922 – November 3, 1986), known professionally as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. It is unclear how he acquired the moniker "Lockjaw" (later shortened in "Jaws"): it is either said that ...

. He and Patterson frequently recorded as a duo. James led his own groups in the latter half of the 1960s and worked further with Stitt during this time as well as with

Eric Kloss Eric Kloss (born April 3, 1949) is an American jazz saxophonist. Music career Kloss was born blind in Greenville, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, and attended the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind, which was run by his father. When he was 1 ...

. Later associations include

Eddie Harris Eddie Harris (October 20, 1934 – November 5, 1996) was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ. His best-k ...

and

Houston Person Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He received the ...

Discography

With

* '' Instant Death'' (

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

, 1971) * '' Eddie Harris Sings the Blues'' (Atlantic, 1972) * ''

Excursions An excursion is a trip by a group of people, usually made for leisure, education, or Physical exercise, physical purposes. It is often an adjunct to a longer journey or visit to a place, sometimes for other (typically work-related) purposes. Pu ...

'' (Atlantic, 1973) * ''

Is It In ''Is It In'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Eddie Harris recorded in 1973 and released on the Atlantic label.

'' (Atlantic, 1973) With Don Patterson * ''

Goin' Down Home ''Goin' Down Home'' is an album by organist Don Patterson recorded in Chicago in 1963 and released on the Cadet label in 1966.Edwards, D. & Callahan, MCadet Album Discography (1965-1971)accessed March 22, 2013 Although it is the earliest recordin ...

'' (

Cadet A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in ...

, 1963

966 Year 966 (Roman numerals, CMLXVI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * 23 June - Arab-Byzantine Wars, Byzantine-Arab War: Arab-Byzantine ...

* '' The Exciting New Organ of Don Patterson'' (

Prestige Prestige refers to a good reputation or high esteem; in earlier usage, ''prestige'' meant "showiness". (19th c.) Prestige may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Films * ''Prestige'' (film), a 1932 American film directed by Tay Garnet ...

, 1964) * ''

Hip Cake Walk ''Hip Cake Walk'' is an album by organist Don Patterson recorded in 1964 and released on the Prestige label.Patterson's People ''Patterson's People'' is an album by organist Don Patterson recorded in 1964 and released on the Prestige label.Holiday Soul'' (Prestige, 1964) * ''

Satisfaction! ''Satisfaction!'' is an album by organist Don Patterson recorded in 1965 and released on the Prestige label.The Boss Men ''The Boss Men'' is an album by organist Don Patterson with saxophonist Sonny Stitt and drummer Billy James recorded in late 1965 and released on the Prestige label.Soul Happening! ''Soul Happening!'' is an album by organist Don Patterson recorded in 1966 and released on the Prestige label.Mellow Soul ''Mellow Soul'' is an album by organist Don Patterson recorded in 1967 and released on the Prestige label.Four Dimensions'' (Prestige, 1967) * '' Boppin' & Burnin''' (Prestige, 1968) * ''

Opus De Don ''Opus De Don'' is an album by organist Don Patterson (organist), Don Patterson recorded in 1968 and released on the Prestige Records, Prestige label.Funk You! ''Funk You!'' is an album by organist Don Patterson (organist), Don Patterson recorded in 1968 and released on the Prestige Records, Prestige label.Brothers-4 ''Brothers-4'' is an album by organist Don Patterson (organist), Don Patterson with saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige Records, Prestige label.Donny Brook ''Donny Brook'' is an album by organist Don Patterson with saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.

'' (Prestige, 1969) * '' Tune Up!'' (Prestige, 1971) * '' Movin' Up!'' (Muse, 1977) With

* '' Boss Tenors in Orbit!'' (

Verve Verve may refer to: Music * The Verve, an English rock band * ''The Verve E.P.'', a 1992 EP by The Verve * ''Verve'' (R. Stevie Moore album) * Verve Records, an American jazz record label Businesses * Verve Coffee Roasters, an American coffee ho ...

, 1962) -with

* '' Feelin's...'' (

Roost Roost may refer to: Animal resting * Roosting, resting behavior of birds * Communal roosting, a behavior of some birds and other animals * Monarch butterfly roosts, communal resting sites in monarch butterfly migration * Bat roost, a list of pla ...

, 1962) * '' Low Flame'' ( Jazzland, 1962) * ''

Shangri-La Shangri-La is a fictional place in Asia's Kunlun Mountains (昆仑山), Uses the spelling 'Kuen-Lun'. described in the 1933 novel ''Lost Horizon'' by English author James Hilton. Hilton portrays Shangri-La as a mystical, harmonious valley, ge ...

'' (Prestige, 1964) * '' Soul People'' (Prestige, 1964) * '' Night Crawler'' (Prestige, 1965) * ''

Deuces Wild ''Deuces Wild'' is a 2002 American crime drama film directed by Scott Kalvert and written by Paul Kimatian and Christopher Gambale, who also created the story. The film stars Stephen Dorff, Brad Renfro, James Franco, Matt Dillon, and Fairuza Ba ...

'' (Atlantic, 1966) * '' Made for Each Other'' ( Delmark, 1968

972 Year 972 ( CMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Spring – Emperor John I Tzimiskes divides the Bulgarian territories, recent ...

* ''

Soul Electricity! ''Soul Electricity!'' is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in 1968 and released on the Prestige label. The album features Stitt using the varitone, an electronic amplification device which altered the saxophone's sound.Myers, MSonny Stit ...

'' (Prestige, 1968) * ''

It's Magic "It's Magic" is a popular song written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn, published in 1947. They wrote the song for Doris Day in her Warner Brothers film debut, ''Romance on the High Seas'' (retitled ''It's Magic'' in the United Kingdom ...

'' (Delmark, 1969 005 * ''Just The Way It Was (Live At The Left Bank)'' (Label M, 1971

000 Triple zero, Triple Zero, Zero Zero Zero, Triple 0, Triple-0, 000, or 0-0-0 may refer to: * 000 (emergency telephone number), the Australian emergency telephone number * "Triple Zero", a song by AFI (band), AFI from ''Shut Your Mouth and Open Your ...

With others * ''Legends Of Acid Jazz: Gene Ammons'' (Prestige, 1997) -included as a CD bonus is the single, "I Can't Stop Loving You" b/w "My Babe" rgo 5417 recorded in 1962 by Gene Ammons with the Don Patterson/Paul Weeden/Billy James trio, and later released on the various artists compilation ''The Soul Jazz Giants'' restige 7791in 1971. *

, ''

I Only Have Eyes for You "I Only Have Eyes for You" is a romantic love song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin, written for the film ''Dames'' (1934) when Dick Powell introduced it. Several successful recordings of the song were made in 1934; later, there we ...

'' (Prestige, 1962) * Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, ''

Trackin' "Trackin'" is a song by Filipino-American singer Billy Crawford. It was the first single released from his second studio album, ''Ride'' (2002). The song reached number one in the Netherlands, number three in Switzerland, number five in France, ...

'' (Prestige, 1962) *

, ''

Introducing Eric Kloss ''Introducing Eric Kloss'' is the debut album by saxophonist Eric Kloss which was recorded in 1965 and released on the Prestige Records, Prestige label.

'' (Prestige, 1965) * Eric Kloss, ''

Love and All That Jazz ''Love and All That Jazz'' is a studio album by saxophonist Eric Kloss. It was recorded in 1966 and released on Prestige Records.Houston Person Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He received the ...

, '' Heavy Juice'' (

Muse In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...

, 1982) *

Shirley Scott Shirley Scott (March 14, 1934 – March 10, 2002) was an American jazz organist. Her music was noted for its mixture of bebop, blues and gospel elements. She was known by the nickname "Queen of the Organ". Life and career Scott was born in Phi ...

/Don Patterson/Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, '' Stompin''' (Prestige, 1967) *

Clarence Wheeler Clarence E. Wheeler (September 27, 1885 – December 28, 1966) was an American musician and composer. He created the music for many of ''Woody Woodpecker'' series cartoons under Walter Lantz Productions along with films in the 1950s. Biography Wh ...

, ''The New Chicago Blues'' (Atlantic, 1973) * Various Artists, ''Blue Note Records Presents The Lost Sessions'' (

Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical co ...

, 1999) -this compilation includes one track ("Lady Be Good") from the aborted Sonny Stitt/

Dexter Gordon Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923 – April 25, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and actor. He was among the most influential early bebop musicians, which included other greats such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gi ...

session (on 5/14//62) featuring the Don Patterson/Paul Weeden/Billy James trio. *

Gene Ludwig Gene Ludwig (September 4, 1937 – July 14, 2010) was an American jazz and rhythm and blues organist, who recorded as a leader as well as a sideman for Sonny Stitt, Arthur Prysock, Scott Hamilton, Bob DeVos, and Leslie West, and others. Ludwig ...

, ''The Groove ORGANization'' (Blues Leaf, 2002) -with Bob DeVos *

Bob DeVos Bob DeVos (born 1946) is an American jazz guitarist, vocalist, and teacher from New Jersey. Early life DeVos failed a "music appreciation" class in his first year of college, which he later dropped out from. Career His style combines blues, r ...

, ''DeVos' Groove Guitar!'' (Blues Leaf, 2003) -with Gene Ludwig * Dan Fogel, ''Soul Eyes'' (Laughing Waters, 2004) -with Tony Ventura (guitar)

References

;Footnotes ;General references *"Billy James". '' The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz''. 2nd edition, ed.

Barry Kernfeld Barry Dean Kernfeld (born August 11, 1950) is an American musicologist and jazz saxophonist who has researched and published extensively about the history of jazz and the biographies of its musicians. Education In 1968, Kernfeld enrolled at U ...

, 2004. 1936 births 2009 deaths American jazz drummers Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania {{US-jazz-drummer-stub