Saint Jaimz

Singer/Songwriter/Producer, Saint Jaimz (formerly known as Stanley James) is a self -proclaimed "Zen Master" of hiz craft, he has weathered the toughest of times in order to follow the musical path hiz heart has set. Hiz passion for Muzic flows like a raging river; not only through all of the music he creates, but also in the methodical marketing avenues he has come up with as an independent artist to get that music heard, be it to the public or power brokers in the music business. Saint Jaimz does whatever it takes to create music that tells a story and has the ability to change and touch lives. He has sewn up a seamless blend of adult contemporary and soul music sensibilities, thus creating a sound that all lovers of muzic will take to heart.” There is nothing new under the sun. It is about how you present it. Sometimes you have to reinvent yourself, making the familiar fresh for a new generation”.

Thus, the emergence of Saint Jaimz. “Stanley James is no longer a reflection of my present persona” he says, however, the trials, experiences, and struggles I lived through in this bizness during that 9 year journey as Stanley James, has prepared me for the purpose and mission ahead as Saint Jaimz, which is to deliver “muzic with purpose back to the masses”. Hiz sensitivity extends beyond the predictable “I wanna sex you” love songs that saturate most radio and video media these days. He says, “I write "LIFE" songs not “LOVE” songs”. Don’t think the man can’t rock a party now, because before he even started singing, he was a street dancer. His strongest calling card is hiz spellbinding abilities as a stage performer.

Saint Jaimz has been singing since he was 5 years old. He started in the Baptist church where hiz Grandmother Betty Williams was a soloist. She loved Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, he remembers, and always cried when she sang on Sunday. She was my greatest influence; musically and beyond. A byproduct of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, where Saint Jaimz survived the all too common inner city rearing. After the family packed up and relocated to Columbus, Ohio, Saint Jaimz attended Whetstone High school in Columbus, Ohio where he did everything from talent shows to working with drama teacher and renowned choir director Alvis Moore (a great motivator) to perform in a production of ‘Raisin’. However, it was hiz performance of George Benson’s‚ ‘On Broadway’‚ that got him the ovation that sealed hiz fate.

Though he is primarily self-taught, he took some vocal lessons from renowned vocal coach, Lena McLin of Chicago, Illinois; former music and vocal teacher of R&B artist R. Kelly. After a few lessons, she sent him on hiz way. “You are a star waiting to be discovered, remember what I taught you and you will do fine” she said. Citing hiz most influential singers as serious crossover soul crooners Jeffrey Osborne and Peabo Bryson, Saint Jaimz gravitated to the men who could entertain and move you. That approach came in handy once he joined the Army and found himself stationed in Germany. Never able to stray far from music, he soon found himself in a male vocal quartet called "At Ease" modeled after groups like Jodeci and Silk. They won Germany’s equivalent of the Apollo and were flown to New York to compete in the Harlem New York Apollo Theater. They couldn’t even get out of the subway station before the East Coast girls were feenin. Sadly, though the group came close to getting signed (they even sang backup for JOE briefly), internal issues with the label forced them to disband.

In the year 2000-2004, Saint Jaimz entered the toughest time of his life. “I was homeless for four years”, he confesses, but “I was determined”. Shopping deals in the dead of winter when companies were winding down for holidays. “I walked in the blizzard of 2004 to get to Casablanca, Atlantic, Geffen and J Records. I had some BIG doors shut in my face”. Undeterred, Saint Jaimz stayed on his grind hustling his music in a most creative manner. “I would set up shop in bus stations, airports, and even street corners" he shares, and approach people politely and professionally. “I had my music on a CD player with headphones and a 5-item marketing plan questionnaire with my picture and web address for people to fill out asking if they liked the music. A lot of people liked the music so much that they bought my CDs right there and I would autograph them”. Later on the streets, he would set up a battery-powered PA system and rock it karaoke style with a tip bucket to get something to eat.

Most poignant of Saint Jaimz' testimonies is the night he sang at The Sugar Bar in New York and wowed an audience that included Melba Moore, Stephanie Mills, El DeBarge and Freddie Jackson. “I sang Maxwell's Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) - blazed it - and everybody loved it”. Freddie said, “Man, you can sing!! Come sit down”. He was real cool‚ telling me to stay focused. I broke it down and told him, “Look, man, I don't know where I'm sleeping