James Henry

I’ve spent many years in London trying to establish a life and I’m getting fairly close at last. I’ve struggled most of the time, professionally, although my stay here has produced some modest but notable music-related highlights which I will now endeavour to list before you finally go elsewhere.

• Being on the verge of a publishing deal in the early 90′s with Morrison Leahy in London, only for the A and R woman I’d been dealing with for two months to suddenly disappear off the face of the earth, just after she’d asked me to send in my six best songs, so that “we can sort something out for you”. Still waiting for a reply……….
• Getting PRS membership – after writing a short, jazz soundtrack to a short, silent film called “The House”, produced by a short-lived company called Project Pictures. Through this, I did some additional work for a library outfit based in Soho, known as Kick. They’d had a commission from an Australian TV company to write for a series of childrens programmes called “Hot Science” and, on hearing some of my stuff, gave me a couple of shows to write for. I produced three instrumental pieces which directly led to my PRS induction in 1995. I wonder if they ever used any of it……? I’m pretty sure that Kick now have their stuff all over CBeebies kids programming, here in the UK.
• Performing solo, acoustic concerts at various venues in London (and beyond), notably The Rock Garden, Kashmir Klub, Bush Hall and City Showcase 2005. The “beyond” localities include New York, at The Sidewalk Cafe, Belfast at The Duke Of York (Johnny Hero played “I’ve Always Wanted You” straight afterwards in the upstairs club – freakish!) and Austin, Texas, where I supported the excellent Marlee Macleod from Minneapolis at The Acoustic Cafe on 6th Street (hello also to Billy Hawn, her Los Angeles drummer – a top guy!).
• Writing, performing and producing my CD “Sweetener”, of which I am seriously proud, despite its faults! Of the few copies I initially pressed up, it has gone on to sell reasonably well with absolutely minimal exposure. Its follow-up, the difficult second album, entitled “Overspill”, will be available as a limited edition CD from 16th June 2011.
• And finally……whilst still living in London, having the song “Saturday Morning” earn me £1.80 worth of royalties for 2005/2006, from airplay on……………………..BBC Radio Merseyside.

And then…………………we are where we are now. This is exciting. I hope this excursion around my story hasn’t put you off – probably not, if you’ve gotten this far. Thank you for your kind attention to this point. I hope to attract it again in the near future, but for that I will, once again, require your co-operation, so please give generously.

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