James Reay

Like many professional performers I started off in the world of amateur dramatics and musicals. I am really pleased I did this because it gave me a taste of showbiz, which has lasted ever since and I am grateful that I was able to gain a wide experience of performance. This has stood me in good stead ever since.

I have always enjoyed entertaining people, even from a very young age. My Mum tells me one day I was dancing around the living room. When she came in I declared that I was dancing for myself. As a child my first appearance in an amateur production was as one of the Siamese children in the King & I. I also starred as Benjamin in an amateur production of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

In my teens I started playing the trombone and reached grade 6 before I had to give it up. The reason is a common one amongst players - Nosebleeds. I also was taught piano and reached grade 5. At the age of 16 I started touring the local pubs and clubs with my friend Colin. We performed mostly Old Time musicals. This was also my first experience as a comedy drag artist

In 1987 I entered a local talent competition where I came second and a lady called Jean came first. A few weeks later we found ourselves singing in a showcase for a local agency. I was having a bit of trouble singing ‘As Time Goes By’, when Jean came up on stage and helped me out. Everyone thought we sounded good together, so we decided to form a duo called ‘Jasmine’. We sang together in pubs and clubs for seven years.

Later I had a spot on Michael Barrymore’s ‘My Kind Of People’, and Philip Schofield’s ‘A Million To One’. It was after this I decided to move to Blackpool.

Coming to Blackpool was a very big step for me. I had loads of friends, a house and pets in Norwich. It was not an easy decision to make, it was also very different being a solo artist, being professional rather than amateur. I was SCARED.

I got myself an agent and started working, it was that easy. Nowadays the streets of Blackpool are not paved with gold, despite the rumours.

I have built myself an excellent reputation over the last 9 years. I spent 2 seasons at Joe Longthorne’s Music Hall Tavern. I also spent 15 months at ITP’s prestigeous venue FAYES (now Roxy’s). During my time here I have appeared with Joe Longthorne and Jim Davidson at the Winter Gardens Opera House, and with Brotherhood Of Man, Esther Rantzen, Roy Walker & Johnny Casson at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Five years ago I opened a Recording Studio with my partner Simon, you can access the site via the blog roll on the left. We are having great success and have some up and coming professional artistes using our services.

I have also recorded a new dance version of America, which is currently climbing the Euro Dance Chart, and two years ago I recorded a dance version of the Glen Campbell hit Rhinestone Cowboy, both with  Dj & Record Producer Ross Alexander. These are both commercial releases and as you can imagine I am immensley proud of these tracks. They are  available to download from HMV, Woolworths, Play.com and others.

I have also just completed a brand new version of Rock Me Gently, you can listen to a sample on the Audio page.

Look to the future & thanks for reading.

James.