James Brown a.k.a. Jim Brown | |
---|---|
Also known as | The King |
Born | 1968 (age 55–56)
[1] Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Years active | 1998–present |
Website |
www |
James "The King" Brown (born 1968) is a Belfast-born Elvis Presley tribute act known for his covers of songs done in the style of Elvis. [2] [3] In the vein of "songs that Elvis should have done," [4] Brown often performs songs by other artists such as " Whole Lotta Rosie", originally by AC/DC, and " Crazy Little Thing Called Love", originally by Queen.
Initially a career Belfast postman, Brown became a singer after the positive reaction he received performing " Suspicious Minds" and " The Wonder of You" at a bar in Belfast, and attracting the attention of local singer-songwriter, record producer & former Energy Orchard frontman Bap Kennedy. [5] [6] [7]
Brown's first album, Gravelands was originally recorded for and released by the London-based Dressed To Kill label in 1997 before being licensed to EMI Electrola in 1998. The album contained his biggest hits " Come as You Are" by Nirvana and " Whole Lotta Rosie" by AC/DC. [1] Gravelands would go on to sell half a million copies. [8] In 2000, Brown released his second album Return to Splendor which contained the hit " Under The Bridge" originally by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Brown also toured with the Fun Lovin' Criminals and Stereophonics. [9] Due to a management dispute in 2000, he parted ways with his band. Thanks to music producer Zeus B. Held, Brown gained a new set of German backing instrumentalists, mostly from Freiburg. [10] Brown's cover of Roger Miller's 1964 single " King of the Road" was featured in a 2001 Audi commercial on German TV and subsequently released as a single. [11] [12] In 2005 Brown released his third studio album Any Way You Want Me via Browman Records – his first with original songs rather than cover versions. [10]
In 2009 Brown recorded "When the Rebel Comes Home", "Waiting for this Moment" and "Until it Happens" at Ardent Studios for the film Lonely Street (2009). [13] [14] In April 2014 he released Return to Gravelands, a 'best of' album consisting of tracks from his first three albums and the three otherwise unavailable contributions from Lonely Street. [13] [14] This was accompanied by a European tour of the same name, culminating in a one-off performance at Belfast's Empire on 9 May. Brown continues to perform live in Northern Ireland but occasionally travels to other countries throughout Europe,mainly Germany, to perform" [6] [15] September 2020 saw the release of the second Willow Springs (a project by fellow NI musician, Mark Crockard) album "Night-time Radio" featuring two original songs written for Jim - "Hello Friend" and "To be with you".
Brown is married, with five children, and lives in Newtownabbey. [16]
Gravelands (album)
Return To Splendor (album)
"King of the Road (single)" from the album King of the road : der Hit aus der Audi Werbung [11]
Live in Concert (album)
Any Way You Want Me (album)
The American Sound Show (album)
Lonely Street (film soundtrack)
James Brown a.k.a. Jim Brown | |
---|---|
Also known as | The King |
Born | 1968 (age 55–56)
[1] Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Years active | 1998–present |
Website |
www |
James "The King" Brown (born 1968) is a Belfast-born Elvis Presley tribute act known for his covers of songs done in the style of Elvis. [2] [3] In the vein of "songs that Elvis should have done," [4] Brown often performs songs by other artists such as " Whole Lotta Rosie", originally by AC/DC, and " Crazy Little Thing Called Love", originally by Queen.
Initially a career Belfast postman, Brown became a singer after the positive reaction he received performing " Suspicious Minds" and " The Wonder of You" at a bar in Belfast, and attracting the attention of local singer-songwriter, record producer & former Energy Orchard frontman Bap Kennedy. [5] [6] [7]
Brown's first album, Gravelands was originally recorded for and released by the London-based Dressed To Kill label in 1997 before being licensed to EMI Electrola in 1998. The album contained his biggest hits " Come as You Are" by Nirvana and " Whole Lotta Rosie" by AC/DC. [1] Gravelands would go on to sell half a million copies. [8] In 2000, Brown released his second album Return to Splendor which contained the hit " Under The Bridge" originally by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Brown also toured with the Fun Lovin' Criminals and Stereophonics. [9] Due to a management dispute in 2000, he parted ways with his band. Thanks to music producer Zeus B. Held, Brown gained a new set of German backing instrumentalists, mostly from Freiburg. [10] Brown's cover of Roger Miller's 1964 single " King of the Road" was featured in a 2001 Audi commercial on German TV and subsequently released as a single. [11] [12] In 2005 Brown released his third studio album Any Way You Want Me via Browman Records – his first with original songs rather than cover versions. [10]
In 2009 Brown recorded "When the Rebel Comes Home", "Waiting for this Moment" and "Until it Happens" at Ardent Studios for the film Lonely Street (2009). [13] [14] In April 2014 he released Return to Gravelands, a 'best of' album consisting of tracks from his first three albums and the three otherwise unavailable contributions from Lonely Street. [13] [14] This was accompanied by a European tour of the same name, culminating in a one-off performance at Belfast's Empire on 9 May. Brown continues to perform live in Northern Ireland but occasionally travels to other countries throughout Europe,mainly Germany, to perform" [6] [15] September 2020 saw the release of the second Willow Springs (a project by fellow NI musician, Mark Crockard) album "Night-time Radio" featuring two original songs written for Jim - "Hello Friend" and "To be with you".
Brown is married, with five children, and lives in Newtownabbey. [16]
Gravelands (album)
Return To Splendor (album)
"King of the Road (single)" from the album King of the road : der Hit aus der Audi Werbung [11]
Live in Concert (album)
Any Way You Want Me (album)
The American Sound Show (album)
Lonely Street (film soundtrack)