Born and raised in the ghetto's of SE Washington, DC.
Given a vision at an early age to get out of the ghetto. I started learning to play bass guitar at age 13. (I also met the young lady [Marsha Richardson] that I would marry at age 18. We're still together and happy after 38 years; even though we had to send our only child we had together James, Jr. Home to be with the Lord Jesus Christ at the tender age of 31. The Lord blessed James, Jr., his wife Miya, with three children.
I have a Daughter La'Tisha, living in DC, with her husband Darren, and they are blessed with two children). Therefore I am blessed with five grand children.The "D" Street Rhythm Band was born. Curtis Hartley - Drums; Roy (Big Tony) Fraley - Guitar and James A. (Cisco) Gaskins - Bass.
Three friends that were closer than brothers. We did everything together. The good, bad and ugly things. But we practiced every day. As time moved on we became the premier band to have at your house party in the hood.
We were "The Intrepids" back up band. I have always been blessed to play with great musicians and vocalist.
When Curtis (Drummer) some how grew up and joined the army. Big Tony (Guitarist) and I went in different directions. How ever we both continued to study our crafts.By the time I was 15 I landed a gig with Robert (Bobby) Parker the artist that wrote and recorded "Bare Footing".
Bobby was about 30 something when I began my tour with him in what we called the hole in the wall circuit. We gigged every weekend. I learned a lot from Bobby. He was an excellent guitarist and vocalist.At age 16 1/2 I was approached by a guy name Willie Bennett, the sax player and band director for a group out of Baltimore, MD. called The Softones. Willie asked me if I was interested in playing Bass with The Softones. Being in high school and having two children on the way, that was a no brainer. Willie and I began to ride the Grey Hound Bus from DC to Baltimore every day for rehearsal. Within a couple of weeks we were gigging. My first road trip with The Softones was to the Virgin Islands. I had arrived as one of the premier backup bass players on the East Coast. I toured the world with The Softones from 1972 - 1976.
The background picture is of THE MIDNIGHT MOVERS out of South Hill, VA. No longer together but we had it going on. There's a wealth of talent and experiance in that picture. Back row left to right, Jimmy Smiley Sax and Vocals; Mike McDilda Trombone, Keyboards and Vocals; Carl Pulley Drums; James A. (Cisco) Gaskins Bass; front row left to right, Ray whitiker Vocals; Tony T. Vocals; and F. A. Hendricks Guitar and Vocals.
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