Chris James

WC Handy Award-winner, musician, composer, actor and director Guy Davis says “Christopher James is amongst the best pure musicians that there are. There’s nothing he can’t do!”

Christopher’s love of music is expressed in his songwriting, singing, and playing on the mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica and ukulele. He has written over a hundred and fifty songs and recently co-wrote a song with Tim O’Brien. He has performed with or opened for such luminaries as John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Etta James, Guy Davis, Professor Louie and the Crowmatix, Roomful of Blues, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, Ralph Stanley and many others. He and his band have performed at clubs, theaters and festivals from New York City to Dallas, Texas including Artscape (Baltimore, MD), Baltimore Blues Festival, Roots Music and Arts Festival (Westminster, MD) which also featured Buckwheat Zydeco and Jesse McReynolds and the Common Ground on the Hill Concert Series which has also featured Pete Seeger, Cephas & Wiggins, Tony Trischka, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Tom Chapin and Happy Traum. James has taught classes in Blues Mandolin and New Orleans guitar for the past three years at Common Ground on the Hill alongside such greats as Barry Mitterhoff (mandolin, Hot Tuna), Guy Davis and Professor Louie. He has released five CD’s which have been played on stations such as WRNR (103.1) and WPFW (89.3). His fourth CD, Out of Wooden Boxes, which features James and fellow Individual Artist Award winners Jon Seligman and Jeff Reed received two Wammie nominations from the Washington Area Music Association for Best Blues Recording and Best Blues Vocalist. Christopher’s mandolin playing is featured on his latest release, When the Moon Gets High Tonight: The Blues Mandolin Experience.

Through teaching, recording, writing and performing Christopher Singing Hawk James shares his hope, excitement and passion for music and its endless possibilities.