Thanks for visiting the MySpace site for Awen!
Official website: www.sharethelightproductions.com .
From Jan. '05 until July '06, this was a website for Blue Knight, James' now disbanded folk/rock/world band (Jan. '03 - July '06). To learn more about Blue Knight and listen to/buy their CDs, visit www.cdbaby.com/bkjg or www.cdbaby.com/bkjg2 .
To contact James & Julie directly, email: [email protected] . For more information about their music & current performing projects, read on!
1/8/09 - James & Julie wish everyone a Happy New Year! Check out our blog regarding Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in February! Finally, if you like the idea of an economic stimulus package that combines creating green jobs with protecting public lands and wildlife, then follow this link to learn more! http://action.defenders.org/wildlifejobs
In The Beginning
James studied music and voice at Susquehanna University (PA), acting at the National Shakespeare Conservatory (NYC), and performed dozens of musicals, comedies, and dramas during the 10 years before he moved to New York City in January, 1998. There he worked steadily as an actor until September of 2001. Following 9/11 he decided that his songwriting muse could no longer be denied and he began performing his songs in bars, clubs and coffee houses in and around New York's Greenwich Village.
James first got the idea to create a company called "Share the Light Productions" in 1993 while performing a Civil War musical in Gettysburg, PA. He had just begun writing songs and hoped that someday such a company would help him to promote his unique style of folk/rock music. Ten years later that dream came to fruition and STLP also became "a center of spiritual operations" for all his artistic endeavors. He released his first CD "New Beginnings" in February, 2002. An all original soundtrack to a stage play of the same name, the CD marked the first time his songwriting skill was actively sought after by a producer (Kathy Towson) - and his music was suddenly available for purchase.
He founded the folk/rock/world band Blue Knight in January, 2003; a synchronistic combination of artists - performers, bright spirits, friends and musicians all - who took it upon themselves to live mythically while sharing in James' musical vision. World, latin, pop, and rock influences came together in Blue Knight's music. Poetry, Celtic legends, interpersonal and mythic relationships, and Pre--Raphaelite art all influenced James' lyrics. Share the Light Productions and the members of Blue Knight helped produce the next two CDs. The first, a special compilation disc featuring the band live and in the studio, was released in December, 2004. A second CD was recorded live during a performance in Leesburg, VA, at the New Age Store, Esoterica, in June, 2005.
The Plot Thickens
James and Julie met in the fall of 2004 and were immediately convinced they should make music together. At the time, James was looking to fill some vocal "shoes" left empty by the departure of vocalist Carol Crittenden from his band Blue Knight. He placed an ad on the NY area Craig's List to which Julie responded.
"I knew right away that Julie was a serious talent, someone I could count on to sing beautifully and to really dive in and learn lots of material. We clicked, too, on both an artistic and spiritual level - that was very important to me," said James when asked about meeting Julie for the first time. "We had a gig scheduled for the first week of the new year (2005) and with very short notice, she was prepared to perform several songs incorporating 3 part harmony. At the rehearsal studio, she and then Blue Knight singer Bethany Burgess-Smith sat on the floor comparing notes and getting to know each other. Her easygoing-yet-professional attitude impressed me - and her voice! To die for..."
After that first gig with James in January of 2005, Julie had to return to her home state of Colorado to perform in a theatrical production in which she'd been cast. "I was bummed that so soon after finding Julie, she had to leave on what would wind up a rather extended hiatus. But I understood - that we both had theater backgrounds was yet another reason I wanted to work with her. So I said I hoped she'd come back and work with us again and the show went on, as it were."
Happily for James, Julie did return in the fall of 2005 and expressed her interest in rejoining the band. "From September of 2005 until July of 2006, Julie was an intregal part of Blue Knight's music. She performed in many venues, learned a ton of music and folks remarked on her style and professionally trained voice. She and Debbi Adelman (who began singing with the band shortly after Julie left) became a great team with whom I loved working."
In July of 2006, James decided that the Blue Knight band had run its course. James asked Julie to continue to sing with him as he launched a new plan that would see the two of them performing as a duet and bringing new elements into the music. They would perform songs from musical theatre, explore ways to showcase Julie's talents as a lead singer and pianist, and record and write new music together as 2006 came to a close.
"We've recorded some Christmas music and are beginning work on a two new albums...one of songs we sing together and one of songs written for her to sing solo. She'll be recording piano, I'll be playing guitar and we'll both be taking advantage of the flexibility our home studio has to offer. As long as I keep getting to make music with Julie, I know I'll be happy. I'm so lucky she found me!"
James is currently writing music Julie will record on her upcoming CD, and they are also performing James' original music along with Broadway selections and historical (Civil War - remember Gettysburg?) music at venues up and down the east coast. They are also recording a CD showcasing the two artists as a Performing Songwriter Duo that they hope to see released in April, 2007.
What's Next?
"New York has been great to me - I've been performing here for almost ten years and the experience has been life changing. Now I'm looking to gather up those experiences in my music and begin anew, perform with Julie and enjoy the chance to sing some classic theater songs, and travel to places my songs "haven't been." I've always enjoyed the connection that comes from performing for the audiences you find in coffee houses and out-of-the-way locations. I'd like to do more of that with Julie, while we discover together what lessons our mutual dreamseeking has to teach us. I'll still gig in New York for the time being, I'll still enjoy performing with the good friends I've made here but what the future holds is once again a mystery...and nothing inspires me more than the unknown!"
James' songwriting "habit" has found him playing his music in such diverse locales as New York City; the Outer Banks, NC; quayside in Wickford, RI; New Paltz, NY; Detroit, MI; Roswell, GA; San Francisco, CA; St. Petersburg, FL; Boston, MA; Gettysburg, PA; Denver, CO; Leesburg, VA; Sunnyvale, CA and well, you get the idea.
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