Marven James

Artist Information

Biography

Timmins Ontario was the setting to where it all began for Marven James. His parents, a Francophone father from Quebec and an Italian mother from Timmins, provided the backdrop for Marven's love of music during his early years. Marven grew up surrounded by a variety of music genres which he later drew on for his inspiration. He mastered the art of drumming and played with many local rock bands where he would also have an opportunity to test his vocals.

ln the year 2000, Marven put his drum kit away and focused on developing his career as a professional singer. His musical style was greatly influenced by the sound of New Country music performed by Alan Jackson and Brooks and Dunn. He was also drawn to the more traditional country music and found inspiration by listening to Bobby Bare and Marty Robbins. Marven wanted to hone his vocal abilities and took singing lessons at the "Institut de Developpement Vocal Integral de Montreal (IDIVM) and took advantage of participating in many different singing contests in the Montreal area.

These contests provided him with an opportunity to perform in larger concert venues in the province of Quebec namely the Metropolis, the Capitol and the Palace Arvida in Jonquiere.
ln 2005, he launched his first album consisting of songs which he personally selected because of their soulful and heartfelt messages.

It was in 2006 when his great adventure began. He teamed up with Dave Frolick, songwriter and co-president of Frozen North Music based in Oshawa Ontario. Both Dave and Marven collaborated on the production of a second album featuring only original material. During this endeavour, Marven knew that he had to find the right sound to further enhance the quality and authenticity of the songs. He chose to record his album in the heart of country music, "Nashville" Tennessee.
Marven set out for Nashville in September 2007, where he had the opportunity to record his album at the infamous Bayou Recording Studio and subsequently worked with George Clinton, sound engineer and co-owner of Bayou Recording. George Clinton is well known in the music industry having worked with artists such as Martina McBride, Alabama and Willie Nelson, to name a few. Marven, along with 7 outstanding studio musicians completed the task of recording his songs after 3 long days.

The result: The Nashville Sounds of Marven James. Included in the album are 8 original songs with styles ranging from country, folk and rock: As Bubbles Dance, Memories of You, When you left me in Georgia, Daddy must be in Heaven, Runaway Angel, Little Angels, Runnin' with my Heart and Dave's Backyard.

The album was released on February 29, 2008.

Instrumentation

Marven can sing to tracks or with the house band.
Marven can also play with his own band "Black Canyon"
Marven James: Vocals
Rick Lefebvre: Back Vocals and Lead Guitar
Sylvain Collerette: Back Vocals and Bass Guitar
Danny Lefebvre: Drummer

Discography

New album "Tennessee Teardrops" to be released on December 4, 2009.


Released Album

"Nashville Sounds of Marven James"

As Bubbles Dance
Daddy Must Be In Heaven
Memories Of You
Runaway Angel
Runnin' With My Heart
When You Left Me In Georgia
Little Angels
Dave's Backyard

The single "When You Left Me In Georgia" has been distributed over 600 radio stations in 26 countries around the world.

Links

• Official Web Site

Audio

• Tennessee Teardrops
  Listen  
• I don't need a million dollars
  Listen  
• As Bubbles Dance
  Listen  

Lyrics

• As Bubbles Dance

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• 3rd Album in Nashville for Marven James [+ Show ]
  

  September 11, 2009 Texte by Marie-Hélène Jean (non official translation) By the time you will...September 11, 2009
  Texte by Marie-Hélène Jean
  
  (non official translation)
  
  By the time you will read these lines, Country singer Marven James will have made his way back home after a week abroad. The singer was recording his 3rd album in the same recording studio were Shania Twain once recorded as well as Alabama and many others. A great venture which took place in the heart of the music: Nashville.
  
  James has released two previous full-length album, For the pleasure (2000) and Nashville Sounds (2008), prior to the recording of The album “Tennessee Teardrops”
  
  A more up close and personal album
  
  Although Marven doesn’t write systematically his songs, the content of this album is related to the facts of his life and is very personal. “My personal life provided inspiration for some songs, and others are talking about reality as of today’s life and how to cope with the recession”. A lot of people will relate to the single “I don’t need a million dollars”. A very touching story is behind “Words I Wish I Heard”, this song his filled with sincerity. “ My life was very difficult. My parents were divorced and were very stricted . I would have given anything to hear my father say “ I love you”. It’s not that I wasn’t loved by my father but he was a man whom didn’t know how to show his emotions. I knew deep down that I was loved but he would show his affection in his own way, it wasn’t always clear to me. I would have loved to hear it from him. The day he finally said “ I love you” was on his death bed, but it was too late for me.” With this song, Marven wants to set in order his relationship with his dad. “It’s a message that I want to send to others that lived the same situation. There is a lot of young guys out there, that are trying to reach out to their father.”.
  
  Nashville: Take 2
  
  It’s on August 8 that Marven packed his bags and flew to Nashville. Although it took him long hours to prepare for this project, he was anxious to initiate his journey. It’s was the second time around in Music City for Marven. The memories from his previous trip are still fresh in his mind. “It was extraordinary, a very long 16 hour trip from Montreal but worth while. When you get there, you don’t know anyone, you don’t know what to expect, all you know is that Nashville is the music city.” Marven remembers being very anxious in recording an album on American ground. “You don’t know their mentality”. The first day you arrive at 9 in the morning along with the musicians to record the bed tracks t’ll 11 at night. The next day, you record the vocals, it takes a good 12 hours and than comes the mixing part. Marven recalls, having listen to other singers recording their material in the previous days. “I became discouraged” they were so talented! The last day, when I finally sat down and listen to the final product, I started to cry. I could not believe it. It was so beautiful.
  
  In the following days, Marven took the time to visit the city and even met with Gretchen Wilson and John Rich from “Big and Rich” it’s so surreal to see these people in person. Marven even did a few songs on stage. But this time around chose not to perform and concentrated on his recording project. “ You really have to be lucky to get discovered in Nashville when you’re an outsider. At the time of our interview, the charming singer already had bought tickets for the infamous Grand Ole Opry and bring back very special memories this second time around.
  
  While recording his 3rd album, with more contemporary sounds, Marven James noticed a change in his vocals through out the years as a performer. “I find the more you sing the better you get”. Little by little Marven is being discovered in some part of the world through out the magic of the internet and to eventually perform in these places.
  
  As for the moment, “Tennessee Teardrops” is set for release in the Spring 2010.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• The best in town [+ Show ]
  

  Montreal, March 1st, 2008 Marven gave a great performance at his 2nd album release last February ...Montreal, March 1st, 2008
  
  Marven gave a great performance at his 2nd album release last February 29, 2008
  
  
  
  Roger Charlebois
  Radio Boomer

• Marven at his best [+ Show ]
  

  Montreal, March 1st, 2008 Marven's was at his best on last February 29, 2008 during his album rel...Montreal, March 1st, 2008
  
  Marven's was at his best on last February 29, 2008 during his album release.

• Album release [+ Show ]
  

  Montreal, March 1st, 2008 A Must See and Hear, Outstanding Vocals. What a show. Benoit Belan...Montreal, March 1st, 2008
  
  A Must See and Hear, Outstanding Vocals. What a show.
  
  
  Benoit Belanger, CJMS Country

• Un nouvel album pour Marven James [+ Show ]
  

  Mercredi - 27 février 2008 C’est à Timmins, Ontario, que Marven vit le jour. Il naquit d’un père ...Mercredi - 27 février 2008
  
  C’est à Timmins, Ontario, que Marven vit le jour. Il naquit d’un père Québécois et d’une mère Italienne. La musique ayant toujours été dans son sang, Dès son adolescence et pour de nombreuses années; il joua dans des groupes locaux, rock, comme batteur et choriste. C’est en 2000 que Marven mit de côté la batterie pour développer sa carrière de chanteur. Son style fut influencé tant par le nouveau country, à la Allan Jackson et Brooks & Dunn, que par le country traditionnel à la Bobby Bare et Marty Robins.
  
  Pour arriver à son but, Marven prit des cours de chant à l'Institut de Développement Vocal Intégral de Montréal (IDVIM) et en profita pour participer à différents concours dans la région Montréalaise. Ces concours lui permirent de se produire dans les plus grandes salles de spectacle du Québec : le Métropolis, le Capitol et le Palace Arvida à Jonquière.
  
  Il sortit son premier album en 2005, soit une compilation de ses meilleurs coups de cœur populaires.
  
  C’est en 2006 que Marven fit la connaissance de Dave Frolick, auteur-compositeur et co-fondateur de Frozen North Music http://www.frozennorthmusic.net basé à Oshawa Ontario. C’est alors que la grande aventure commença. Ils travaillèrent ensemble pendant près d’une année sur un album entièrement composé de matériel original. Pour ce projet, Marven voulait un son authentique et choisit le berceau de la musique Country « Nashville » pour enregistrer. C’est en septembre 2007 que Marven s’associa au Bayou Recording Studio http://www.bayourecording.com pour l’enregistrement de son album; le tout, sous la direction de monsieur George Clinton, ingénieur de son et co-propriétaire du studio. Il n’est pas sans dire que Marven s’est bien entouré pour ce projet, Monsieur Clinton a déjà travaillé avec plusieurs grands noms dont Martina McBride, Alabama et Willie Nelson, pour n’en nommer que quelques-uns. De plus, celui-ci choisit 7 musiciens chevronnés dont la réputation n’est plus à faire dans le domaine. Marven travaille d’arrache pieds avec sa nouvelle équipe et termine l’enregistrement en 3 jours.
  
  Résultat : The Nasvhille Sounds of Marven James. Cet album est une compilation de 8 chansons originales de styles country, folk et rock: As Bubbles Dance, Memories of You, When You Left Me In Georgia, Daddy Must Be In Heaven, Runaway Angel, Little Angels, Runnin’ With My Heart and Dave’s Backyard.
  
  Le lancement aura lieu vendredi le 29 février au centre Champlain au 1201 rue Argyle à Verdun.
  
  Un extrait est présentement disponible sur www.myspace.com/countryrockmarvenjames.
  
  Cet album est dédié à tous ces fans, ceux qui le supportent «No matter what ». www.marvenjames.com
  
  

• Release of a new album for Marven James [+ Show ]
  

  Wednesday - February 27, 2008 Timmins Ontario was the setting to where it all began for Marven Ja...Wednesday - February 27, 2008
  
  Timmins Ontario was the setting to where it all began for Marven James. His parents, a Francophone father from Quebec and an Italian mother from Timmins, provided the backdrop for Marven's love of music during his early years. Marven grew up surrounded by a variety of music genres which he later drew on for his inspiration. He mastered the art of drumming and played with many local rock bands where he would also have an opportunity to test his vocals.
  
  ln the year 2000, Marven put his drum kit away and focused on developing his career as a professional singer. His musical style was greatly influenced by the sound of New Country music performed by Alan Jackson and Brooks and Dunn. He was also drawn to the more traditional country music and found inspiration by listening to Bobby Bare and Marty Robbins. Marven wanted to hone his vocal abilities and took singing lessons at the "Institut de Developpement Vocal Integral de Montreal (IDIVM) and took advantage of participating in many different singing contests in the Montreal area.
  
  These contests provided him with an opportunity to perform in larger concert venues in the province of Quebec namely the Metropolis, the Capitol and the Palace Arvida in Jonquiere.
  ln 2005, he launched his first album consisting of songs which he personally selected because of their soulful and heartfelt messages.
  
  It was in 2006 when his great adventure began. He teamed up with Dave Frolick, songwriter and co-president of Frozen North Music http://www.frozennorthmusicnet based in Oshawa Ontario. Both Dave and Marven collaborated on the production of a second album featuring only original material. During this endeavour, Marven knew that he had to find the right sound to further enhance the quality and authenticity of the songs. He chose to record his album in the heart of country music, "Nashville" Tennessee.
  Marven set out for Nashville in September 2007, where he had the opportunity to record his album at the infamous Bayou Recording Studio and subsequently worked with George Clinton, sound engineer and co-owner of Bayou Recording. George Clinton is well known in the music industry having worked with artists such as Martina McBride, Alabama and Willie Nelson, to name a few. Marven, along with 7 outstanding studio musicians completed the task of recording his songs after 3 long days.
  
  The result: The Nashville Sounds of Marven James. Included in the album are 8 original songs with styles ranging from country, folk and rock: As Bubbles Dance, Memories of You, When you left me in Georgia, Daddy must be in Heaven, Runaway Angel, Little Angels, Runnin' with my Heat and Dave's Backyard.
  The album was released on
  
  February 29, 2008. The general public can listen to a few tracks off the album available at www.myspace.com/countryrockmarvenjames
  
  Marven has dedicated this album to all of his fans and to all who have supported him "No Matter What".
  
  

Setlist

To view a video of Marven we are inviting you to visit him on Myspace.

Sets are usually 30 to 45 minutes (original and cover songs)

Marven has original material from is new released album : Nashville Sounds of Marven James

1)As Bubbles Dance
2)Daddy Must Be In Heaven
3)Memories Of You
4)Runaway Angel
5)Runnin' With My Heart
6)When You Left Me In Georgia
7)Little Angels
8)Dave's Backyard


List of Cover songs:

What About Now - LONE STAR
Queen Of Memphis - CONFEDERATE RAIL ROAD
1000 Miles From Nowhere - DWIGHT YOAKAM
Rhinestone Cowboy - GLENN CAMPBELL
Some Memories Wont Die - MARTY ROBINS
Just What I Do - TRICK PONEY
Designated Drinker - ALLAN JACKSON
Write This Down - GEORGE STRAIT
Devil Woman - MARTY ROBINS
Jessico - KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS
Cadillac Tears - KENNY DENNY
She’ll Leave You With A Smile - GEORGE STRAIT
Whisky Under The Bridge - BROOKS & DUNN
Mercury Blues - ALLAN JACKSON
Only In America - BROOKS & DUNN
But For The Grace Of God - KEITH URBAN
Two Pina Coladas - GARTH BROOKS
500 Miles - BOBBY DARE
Inside The Pocket Of A Clown - DWIGHT YOAKAM
My Next Broken Heart - BROOKS & DUNN
Little Sister - DWIGHT YOAKAM
Quand On Est En Amour - PATRICK NORMAND
Every River - BROOKS & DUNN
Ten Rounds With Jose - TRACY BYRD
Just Let Me Be In Love - TRACY BYRD
Red Dirt Road - BROOKS & DUNN
My Heart Is Lost To You - BROOKS & DUNN
I'm From The Country - TRACY BYRD
Six Days On The Road - SAWYER BROWN
Suspicious Mind - ELVIS PRESLEY
The Most Beautiful Girl - CHARLIE RICH
I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For The World - RONNIE MILSAP

This is only a sample of what Marven can offer you.
Please contact him by telephone at 514-714-7416 or by e-mail: lcote005@sympatico.ca for more information.

Basic Requirements

Calendar