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colin james ...in his element
25 years of rockin’ bliss The walls of veteran blues guitarist and singer Colin James’ home studio are covered with mementoes spanning a successful 25-year music career. Between the Chinese motif sound panels hang some of James’ coveted guitars, including a vintage Martin acoustic, as well as framed gold records and accolades. The impossibly young-looking James points to a large canvas of blues master Muddy Waters. It was given to the artist following a 1997 CBC television special, Colin James Presents the Blues Masters. One of his most prized possessions is a Jim Keltnersigned snare drum head. It was gifted to James by the American drummer after he performed on the vocalist’s album Limelight. (Keltner is best known for his work on solo recordings with the Beatles’ George Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Starr.) Another coveted souvenir is a copy of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s 1985 proof for his Soul to Soul album cover. “When I was 16, Stevie was in Regina and I phoned him to say I’d love to ask him questions,” recalls the 48-yearold musician. “He met up with me and since then, he [has been] a friend and mentor.”
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