Paul James & Bo Diddley
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Paul James Rock'n'Roll Memories...Playing with Bo Diddley
****Paul James Rock'n'Roll Memories ...Playing with Bo Diddley****
I first played with Bo Diddley in 1973 when I was hired to back him up with my band Lick'n' Stick at the upstairs El Mocambo (in Toronto). We played the whole week there to sold out crowds of fans. Bo took me under his wing and gave me some good advice on being a bandleader and encouraged me.
At the end of the week we recorded the sound track to a movie called 'Diary of a Sinner'. He then asked me,' You didn't make much money this week did you?' I said it was an honor and learning experience for me to play with him. He said, "The club wants us do do another week for them in the near future." He said, "Ask for more money", because he told the club he wouldn't do the gig unless he got my band to back him up.
We played the El Mocambo together at least five times Monday through Saturday. Later on we played the CNE at a vintage car show for the weekend and the Palais de Congress in Montreal, The Bruce Inn in Kincardin, Ont., The Nags Head North, Acton Festival, and numerous other engagements.
One time he was playing the Royal York in Toronto for a week and he asked if I could get a gig for him on the Sunday but it could not be advertised. I thought about it for a while and we ended up playing to a full house at a speakeasy that I used to frequent. The last time I played with him was in Thunder Bay two years ago. We were supposed to play together at the Phoenix Club in Toronto last year in May, but he had stroke a week before the show .The show was postponed not canceled and I was hopeful he would recover.
When I backed up Bo I felt it was my gig to give him solid backup so he could do his thing. I must have done about 100 gigs with Bo over the last four decades and watching him perform made me want to be more than just a singer guitar player and songwriter. It made me want to be an entertainer like him. He had a great sense of humor both on stage and off and always reached back to musicians to lend a helping and offer sincere encouragement and advice.
In 1984, when I released my first Album 'Almost Crazy' he came in the studio and added his voice and percussion on a tune that we wrote together, "The Ugiest Girl in Town". It was a tongue in cheek song about a shotgun wedding. He was releasing his own cassette album called 'Ain't It Good To Be Free', and encouraged me to release my own album as an Independent record company. I was going in that direction anyway and it was good having someone that I admired giving me the nudge of approval.
In 1986, he wrote the liner notes to my second vinyl album ...
"From the beginning of his young career, I predicted that Paul James would be a big star one day and that time is right now! The man is a true professional and dynamic! Listening to Paul James is listening of a new thing, and he is a new thing. Paul James is a great musician. He is a great tribute to Rock ‘n’ Roll. BO DIDDLEY"
Bo Diddley has been a great friend, my mentor, an inspiration, to me for the last four decades. I am still constantly influenced by his music and words of advice and inspiration. I don't think I play a gig with my band or solo that I don't play at least one of his songs. He will be in my good thoughts forever. He was the ‘KING OF THE BEAT’, prolific songwriter, one of the originators of rock 'n' roll and a truly nice guy. I'll miss seeing him terribly. I loved the man. Hail Bo Diddley!"
****Paul James Rock'n'Roll Memories ...Playing with Bo Diddley****
I first played with Bo Diddley in 1973 when I was hired to back him up with my band Lick'n' Stick at the upstairs El Mocambo (in Toronto). We played the whole week there to sold out crowds of fans. Bo took me under his wing and gave me some good advice on being a bandleader and encouraged me.
At the end of the week we recorded the sound track to a movie called 'Diary of a Sinner'. He then asked me,' You didn't make much money this week did you?' I said it was an honor and learning experience for me to play with him. He said, "The club wants us do do another week for them in the near future." He said, "Ask for more money", because he told the club he wouldn't do the gig unless he got my band to back him up.
We played the El Mocambo together at least five times Monday through Saturday. Later on we played the CNE at a vintage car show for the weekend and the Palais de Congress in Montreal, The Bruce Inn in Kincardin, Ont., The Nags Head North, Acton Festival, and numerous other engagements.
One time he was playing the Royal York in Toronto for a week and he asked if I could get a gig for him on the Sunday but it could not be advertised. I thought about it for a while and we ended up playing to a full house at a speakeasy that I used to frequent. The last time I played with him was in Thunder Bay two years ago. We were supposed to play together at the Phoenix Club in Toronto last year in May, but he had stroke a week before the show .The show was postponed not canceled and I was hopeful he would recover.
When I backed up Bo I felt it was my gig to give him solid backup so he could do his thing. I must have done about 100 gigs with Bo over the last four decades and watching him perform made me want to be more than just a singer guitar player and songwriter. It made me want to be an entertainer like him. He had a great sense of humor both on stage and off and always reached back to musicians to lend a helping and offer sincere encouragement and advice.
In 1984, when I released my first Album 'Almost Crazy' he came in the studio and added his voice and percussion on a tune that we wrote together, "The Ugiest Girl in Town". It was a tongue in cheek song about a shotgun wedding. He was releasing his own cassette album called 'Ain't It Good To Be Free', and encouraged me to release my own album as an Independent record company. I was going in that direction anyway and it was good having someone that I admired giving me the nudge of approval.
In 1986, he wrote the liner notes to my second vinyl album ...
"From the beginning of his young career, I predicted that Paul James would be a big star one day and that time is right now! The man is a true professional and dynamic! Listening to Paul James is listening of a new thing, and he is a new thing. Paul James is a great musician. He is a great tribute to Rock ‘n’ Roll. BO DIDDLEY"
Bo Diddley has been a great friend, my mentor, an inspiration, to me for the last four decades. I am still constantly influenced by his music and words of advice and inspiration. I don't think I play a gig with my band or solo that I don't play at least one of his songs. He will be in my good thoughts forever. He was the ‘KING OF THE BEAT’, prolific songwriter, one of the originators of rock 'n' roll and a truly nice guy. I'll miss seeing him terribly. I loved the man. Hail Bo Diddley!"