Jimmy James and the Blue Flames
Encyclopedia
- Not to be confused with the earlier Little Junior ParkerJunior ParkerJunior Parker was an American Memphis blues singer and musician. He is best remembered for his unique voice which has been described as "honeyed," and "velvet-smooth"...
's band with the same name or Georgie Fame and the Blue FlamesGeorgie Fame and the Blue FlamesGeorgie Fame and the Blue Flames were a noted British rhythm and blues/soul/jazz/ska/pop group of the 1960s. They had been the backing band for Billy Fury but, after being dismissed at the end of 1961, their pianist Georgie Fame took over as vocalist and they went on to enjoy great...
, another pop/soul/blues band of the 1960s, from the UK.
The Blue Flame usually mistakenly called The Blue Flames or Jimmy James and the Blue Flames by third parties, later and sometimes even the members, much later, though the band never went by those names, was an American rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band that was formed in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1966 by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. The band was actually billed as 'The Blue Flame' in the only surviving advert for them, and as they were referred to by John Hammond
John Hammond
John Hammond may refer to:* John Hammond , English cricketer* John Hammond , American politician* Johnny Hammond , British...
in interviews, a Crawdaddy!
Crawdaddy!
Crawdaddy! was the first U.S. magazine of rock and roll music criticism. Created in 1966 by college student Paul Williams in response to the increasing sophistication and cultural influence of popular music, Crawdaddy! was self-described as "the first magazine to take rock and roll...
1967 issue, and also by Hendrix himself in his 1969 interview with Nancy Carter. 'Jimmy James' was merely his alias at this time, as was the earlier 'Maurice James' i.e. not part of the band title. The band consisted of Hendrix - lead guitar & vocals; Randy Wolfe - 2nd guitar (also slide guitar); Randy Palmer - bass & Danny Casey - drums (both from 'Clouds' a band originally from Houston, Texas).
Since there were two musicians named "Randy" in the group, Hendrix dubbed Wolfe "Randy California
Randy California
Randy California was a guitarist, singer and songwriter and one of the original members of the rock group Spirit, formed in 1967.-Biography:...
" (as he had recently moved from there to New York City) - the name which he held until his death - and Palmer (a Tejano) "Randy Texas". Randy California would later co-found the band Spirit with his stepfather, drummer Ed Cassidy. Jeff Baxter
Jeff Baxter
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is an American guitarist, known for his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s...
claims to have occasionally stood in on bass. The band played together for only three months before Hendrix left the US in September and arrived in England to form The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
.
History
Hendrix (alias 'Jimmy James') formed The Blue Flame (which he said was also called The Rainflowers in one BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
interview - "either name will do.") in June 1966. He recruited 15-year-old guitarist Randy Wolfe (California couldn't recall ever hearing the name 'Rainflowers') after seeing him playing in Manny's Music Store on 48th Street. Hendrix invited him to play with him at the Cafe Wha? that night. At the Cafe, the guitarists spent fifteen minutes in the boiler room, where Jimi taught Wolfe a few songs, namely "Hey Joe
Hey Joe
"Hey Joe" is an American popular song from the 1960s that has become a rock standard and as such, has been performed in a multitude of musical styles by hundreds of different artists since it was first written. "Hey Joe" tells the story of a man who is on the run and planning to head to Mexico...
", "Like a Rolling Stone
Like a Rolling Stone
"Like a Rolling Stone" is a 1965 song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Its confrontational lyrics originate in an extended piece of verse Dylan wrote in June 1965, when he returned exhausted from a grueling tour of England...
", "Wild Thing" and "Shotgun".
The band ended up playing six nights a week at the Cafe Wha? California recalls that "the band made about $60 a night and Jimmy split it equally four ways", though Carol Shiroky (Jimi's girlfriend at the time) thinks differently, claiming the band used to get paid only $7 per night. The band was left behind after Jimi was approached by Chas Chandler and his now business partner (and soon to be former manager) Mike Jeffery, who took him to England and formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Jimi apparently wanted to bring California with him to England to be a member of what became the 'Jimi Hendrix Experience', but Chandler was against the idea as he only wanted Hendrix, who would be the only guitarist in the band, and, anyway, California was too young and his parents were not willing. Jeff Baxter (of Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
and The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
fame) also claims to have sat in (as have others) on bass for The Blue Flame on a few occasions. Danny Taylor, future drummer for the Silver Apples, also has claimed to have played drums with the Blue Flame.
Band members
- Jimmy "James" (Hendrix)Jimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
– vocals & guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Randy "California" (Wolfe)Randy CaliforniaRandy California was a guitarist, singer and songwriter and one of the original members of the rock group Spirit, formed in 1967.-Biography:...
– guitar - Randy "Texas" (Palmer) – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Danny Casey – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....