Russ James

When considering the weekend opportunities of seeing live shows locally, the sprawling land of Poplar Grove usually isn’t top-of-mind on the list of music venues. Sure, the plantation could most certainly make use of its natural acoustics, where bands like the Barnraisers or No Dollar Shoes would fit in real nice with their banjos and stand-up basses against the barnyard backdrop. Yet, Poplar is more popular for the festivities held on its grounds: arts and crafts fairs, seasonal celebrations and festivals, and even a locally-hailed farmer’s market.

This weekend, however, the plantation will be transformed not only into a music venue, but a virtual classic-car garage, where folks can stroll about to see many beauts-on-wheels lined up, offering memories from eras past. Featuring vintage trucks and cars, there will also be food vendors, an ice cream parlor, a country flee market and, best of all, live music.

On the bill is Russ James, a folk and country-rock singer and songwriter, who, like many musicians, attests to music’s healing power. “Some of the best music ever written has never made it to the radio,” James said last week during an encore interview. “Every good song should do one of four things: make you laugh, make you cry, make you dance or make you think. If you listen and do just one of those, then music has probably touched your life for good.”

Like the sounds of a bygone era, matching the ‘57 Chryslers and ‘63 Mustangs sure to be parked along the farmland this weekend, July 5th from 9am-4pm, James finds his tune in the “songs of many genres ... We all like different sounds, rhythms and stories,” he said.

Here is only a snippet of what can be expected from a man whose heart isn’t only inspired by “the love of God and the good in people,” but by “true, eternal love from the heart. It usually isn’t gospel, but it is often good, heartfelt country.”

encore: Why did you feel music was something you wanted to pursue?
Russ James: My parents exposed me to all kinds of music, from Perry Como to Eddy Arnold to the Beatles. I liked some or all of it, and couldn’t wait to get a guitar and learn to play it. Regardless of my mood, music made me feel better.

e: What is your first music memory?
RJ: My first musical memory was of a 78 RPM record my parents bought me when I was about 4 years old by Sherri Lewis and Lambchop called, “Would You Like to Swing on a Star?”

e: How long have you been in the music industry?
RJ: I have been singing and playing guitar since I was 12 years old. I began playing professionally in 1981. I guess I’ve really only been in the ‘industry’ since April of 2007, when my wife and I incorporated Shaky Legz Music [our record label]. That’s when arthritis led me more toward singing solo and songwriting rather than jumping around on stage with a band.

. . . Last summer, I released a CD called Carolina Backroads on my label. The CD has 13 original songs—half country, half folk-rock with a Celtic flavor. Two of the songs were written for a female voice and are sung by a talented young singer from Raleigh named Emily Snyder. The CD is mostly unplugged, with some backup guitar, mandolin and percussion tracks.

In 1982 my trio, Stillwater, released the singles “Carolina Backroads” and “Together in My Heart” on the Wilmington-based Twin Oaks Records, which was played for a while on WWQQ radio. The group broke up when I took a daytime job in Raleigh in 1983.
Currently, I’m working on songs for my next CD, The Best Songs You Never Heard. I’m hoping for a late fall 2008 release.

e: How do you feel about the state of music in America right now?
RJ: I think American music is alive and well with the musicians and songwriters. I’m glad to see the artists getting more of a cut by going straight to the CD retailers and the Internet to get their music out there, in front of the fans. I think that Garth Brooks, The Eagles and Journey are starting a trend whose time has come.

e: What can folks expect from a Russ James show?
RJ: They can expect to laugh, cry and reminisce. My songs will bring back memories of the past and emotions that they can relate to through some personal experience that they may have had. Like Clint Black once said, “Ain’t it funny how a melody can bring back a memory.”
- Encore Magazine - Wilmington, NC