James Anthony (born James Anthony Pecchia, August 8, 1955) is a Canadian guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer.

Early life

James Anthony Pecchia was born in Western Hospital,

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

. His parents were Corinna Madott and Aurelio Pecchia. He grew up in Etobicoke (Renforth Dr) and went to school at Sir Adam Beck, Eatonville, Bloordale, Silverthorne and Burnhamthorpe Collegiate. He started playing the guitar at age nine. Anthony then moved to Cambridge in 1989 and then Burlington in 2004. He plays locally and in the summer at festivals all over North America.

Career

He went on the road at 17 in 1972 with The Cougars TCB, one of the first reggae bands in Canada led by Jay Douglas. In 1971, at the age of 16, Anthony joined Jay Douglas and the Cougars TCB and then in 1974 Edward Bear, Ebony Jam and various Toronto bands. In 1978, he had one album released by RCA with Mondo Combo. In the 1980s, Anthony played country sessions, TV and radio shows. As part of the Lulu's House Band in the 1990s in

Kitchener, Ontario ) , image_flag = Flag of Kitchener, Ontario.svg , image_seal = Seal of Kitchener, Canada.svg , image_shield=Coat of arms of Kitchener, Canada.svg , image_blank_emblem = Logo of Kitchener, Ontario.svg , blank_emblem_type = ...

, Anthony performed with over 150 touring artists, including Sam Moore of

Sam & Dave Sam & Dave were an American soul and R&B duo who performed together from 1961 until 1981. The tenor (higher) voice was Sam Moore (born 1935) and the baritone/tenor (lower) voice was Dave Prater (1937–1988). Nicknamed "Double Dynamite", "The ...

Denny Doherty Dennis Gerrard Stephen Doherty (November 29, 1940 – January 19, 2007) was a Canadian singer. He was a founding member of the 1960s musical group the Mamas and the Papas for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. ...

The Mamas & the Papas The Mamas & the Papas were a folk rock vocal group formed in Los Angeles, California, which recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968. The group was a defining force in the music scene of the counterculture of the 1960s. The group consisted of Am ...

, Gary U.S. Bonds, and

The Platters The Platters was an American vocal group formed in 1952. They are one of the most successful vocal groups of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound bridges the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the new burgeoning genre. The ac ...

. He co-wrote "Here I Am" for the Denny Doherty documentary and for many films and jingles. He hosted an award winning roots musical variety show "The Midnight Hour" on Rogers cable in the 1990s, and "James Anthony Live" on Cogeco Cable in 2011–2013. He was inducted into Blues Hall Of Fame USA on 22 September 2013 in Detroit."Burlington's Blues Hall of Fame inductee James Anthony tries jazz on for size"
''Burlington Post'', Kathryn Dunmore Anthony now resides in

Burlington, Ontario Burlington is a city in the Regional Municipality of Halton at the northwestern end of Lake Ontario in Ontario, Canada. Along with Milton to the north, it forms the western end of the Greater Toronto Area and is also part of the Hamilton met ...

, and owns and operates Sound Investments Recording Studio. He is still active in the blues, jazz and roots music community as a

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

, record producer, and

arranger In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orches ...

. Anthony writes for and produces other artists, jingles and film scores and performs at blues festivals. He has also self-released a number of albums of his music.

Discography

*''Nite School'' *''Play Something You Know'' *''Soul Shoes'' *''The Blue Side of...'' *''Room for Me'' *''All Spruced Up'' *''On The Edge'' *''Live in the Barrel'' *''Some People Get It'' *''Jazz at 7"'' *''James Anthony in Full Colour'' *"Profile " 2023

References

Endoresement List, Eminence Speakers, Godin Guitars, Reverend Guitars, Carl Martin Pedals, Harold Dickert Guitars, Benedetto Guitars, Rail Hammer Pickups, Zexcoli pickups,

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anthony, James 1955 births Living people Canadian blues guitarists Canadian male guitarists People from Burlington, Ontario