Spencer James

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Spencer James
Spencerjames.jpg
James performing in 2009.
Background information
Birth nameSpencer Frederick James
Born (1953-04-15) 15 April 1953 (age 71)
Hayes, Middlesex, England
Genres Pop
Instrument(s)Vocals, synthesizer guitar, guitar
Years active1970–present
Website www.spencerjames.biz

Spencer Frederick James (born 15 April 1953) [1] is an English singer and musician. He has been the lead singer of veteran pop band The Searchers since 1986. James was also a member of the one-hit wonder band The First Class that scored a No. 4 hit with the song "Beach Baby". [2] He also records and produces other acts. [3]

Contents

Career

James improved his stage craft while deputising in the band White Plains. [2] The First Class was initially a studio creation featuring the voice of Tony Burrows. The success of the song "Beach Baby" (#4 in the US [4] , #13 in the UK [5] [6] , #1 in Canada [7] ) led to demand for live appearances. A group, including Spencer James, was assembled to perform a number of dates as The First Class. [8] In 1983, The First Class recorded the single "Gimme Little Sign" with Spencer James on vocals. The single had some success in the Netherlands. [9]

Formed in 1985 (originally under the name Heyday), Nightfly was a supergroup consisting of Spencer James on lead vocals, Zak Starkey on drums, Boz Burrell (ex-Bad Company) on bass, Micky Moody (ex-Whitesnake) on guitar and Mickey Simmonds on keyboards. [10] Nightfly toured in early 1985 but broke up soon after. [11] James went on to form the Spencer James Band which enjoyed considerable success around the pub circuit of West London. At one gig at Brentford's Red Lion they shared the bill with The Searchers. [1]

In December 1985 long-time lead singer of The Searchers, Mike Pender, announced that he was leaving the group. [12] Founding member John McNally recalled Spencer James from the Brentford gig and he was recruited as the new lead singer. His mastery of the synthesizer guitar also added authentic strings and keyboard sounds to The Searchers stage performances, emulating their original studio recordings. [1]

For more than twenty years, James has completed extensive national and international tours with The Searchers. James was lead singer with The Searchers for over 34 years, until 2019 when the band was retired. Spencer quickly put together a new Searchers titled: "The Searchers Experience" a tribute act to the band. [13] He continued to tour with this group around the UK nostalgia circuit until 2024, when the real Searchers band reunited full time, a year after their 2023 farewell tour.

Discography

The First Class lbumsThe First Class singlesSolo albumsThe Searchers albums
  • The First Class (1974)
  • The First Class (1976)
  • "Beach Baby" (1974)
  • "Bobby Dazzler" (1974)
  • "Dreams are Ten a Penny" (1974)
  • "What Became of Me" (1975)
  • "Funny How Love Can Be" [14] (1975)
  • "Life Is Whatever You Want It To Be" (1975)
  • "I Was a Star" (1975)
  • "Child's Play" (1976)
  • "Ain't No Love" (1976)
  • "Too Many Golden Oldies" (1977)
  • "Broken Toy" (1978)
  • "Gimme Little Sign" (1983)
  • Days Gone By (1987)
  • Tides of Time [15]
  • Love Remains [16]
  • Breathe In, Breathe Out (2004) [17]
  • The Age of Reason (2011) [18]
  • Hope For Me Yet (2012)
  • Chapter & Verse (2016)
  • Time For Letting Go (2018)
  • Hungry Hearts (1988) [19]
  • Searchers Live (1998)
  • Searchers Live 2 (2000)
  • Searchers Live 3 (2003)
  • On Stage (2005)
  • The Definitive Searchers Live in Concert (2008)

Videography

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Searchers: A Chronology". the-searchers.co.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  2. 1 2 "The Spencer James Official Website". the-searchers.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
  3. ↑ Burton, Wendy (2005). "Spencer James". The Searchers Records. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  4. ↑ tolsen (2 January 2013). "Billboard Hot 100™". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  5. ↑ hsc1960 (9 June 2023). "Music Friday Flashback: Tony Burrows Asks His 'Beach Baby' to Wear His Ring". The Jeweler Blog. Retrieved 9 February 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ "FIRST CLASS". Official Charts. 15 June 1974. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  7. ↑ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Item". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  8. ↑ Larkin, Colin (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (1st ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 865. ISBN   0-85112-939-0.
  9. ↑ "First Class". oocities.org. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  10. ↑ "Nightfly". MusicMight.com. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  11. ↑ Van Tassell, Kathy (20 November 2004). "Nightfly". kathyszaksite.com. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
  12. ↑ "Search Party", Sounds , 14 December 1985, p. 4
  13. ↑ "BIOGRAPHY". spencer-james-site. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  14. ↑ "Music: Top 100 Songs – Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
  15. ↑ "Tides of Time". the-searchers.co.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  16. ↑ "Love Remains". the-searchers.co.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  17. ↑ "Breathe In, Breathe Out". the-searchers.co.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  18. ↑ "The Age of Reason". spencerjames.the-searchers.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  19. ↑
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