Spoonful James

Spoonful James is a blues, country, & soul band based in Auburn, Alabama. Formed in 1996 in Auburn, AL, the band continues to play and record across the southeastern U.S. to the present day.
History
During the Summer of 1996, former high school bandmates Wynn Christian and Quinn "Dirty" Borland (both originally from Dothan, AL) began playing acoustic shows around Auburn, AL. With the addition of drummer Lee Vartanian, the trio Spoonful James was born. The band quickly gained popularity and released their self-titled debut album in 1997.
Vartanian left the group that year and was replaced by drummer Jay Knorr (Eufaula, AL). During the next year, the band entered the studio again and released Leave That Door Open in 1998. The album's name was derived from an experience at a show in Tallahassee, FL, when the band was opening for Buddy Miles. As one of Buddy's crew went to close the door as Spoonful began to play, Buddy told him to "Leave that door open." The band continued to tour, employing several different keyboardists and with regular guest appearances by James Hooker (Nancy Griffith) and long-time friend Taylor Hicks. Lunceford had played with Hicks for three years prior to joining Spoonful James in the band Passing Through.
Spoonful James decided to end its regular touring in 2003 and did not book another show until 2005. In the meantime, Christian and Lunceford formed the Wynn Christian Band and recorded the album Healed Tonight at Sashacasa Studio in Austin, TX, with producer John Troutman. It was released on February 5, 2004. Also during that period, the pair recorded with the comedic duo Stuckey & Murray for their album Destination: Rock Bottom (again, at Sashacasa Studio) and with Taylor Hicks (at Boutwell Studios, Birmingham, Alabama). Hicks' Under the Radar was completed in late Spring, 2005. Lunceford toured with the Taylor Hicks Band throughout Spoonful's hiatus, as well as with multiple other acts.
Spoonful began booking dates again that year and has toured lightly ever since.
The band has shared the stage with many of their influences and heroes, including Gov't Mule, The Allman Brothers Band, Taj Mahal, Buddy Miles, Little Feat, and others. They also performed as the backing band for Johnnie Johnson on one occasion.
After Taylor Hicks' victory on the fifth season of the Fox television show American Idol, Spoonful opened a few dates for Hicks on his subsequent tours. Christian also made several guest appearances with Hicks' band.
Hicks recorded Wynn Christian's "Seven Mile Breakdown" for his second post-American Idol album, The Distance, released on March 10, 2009. The album peaked at #58 on the Billboard 200 and at #5 on the Top Independent Album charts. Seven Mile Breakdown was released as the album's second single and was performed live on American Idol on April 29, 2009. The song quickly jumped to #16 on the Billboard 200.
Current Members
*Wynn Christian - Lead vocals, guitars (1996-present)
*Quinn "Dirty" Borland - Bass guitar, backing vocals (1996-present)
*Eric Baath - Keyboards (2001-present)
*Patrick Lunceford - Drums, backing vocals (1998-present)
Former Members
*Lee Vartanian - Drums (1997)
*Jay Knorr - Drums (1997-1998)
*Shaylor Warren - Keyboards
*Spencer Pope - Keyboards
*James Hooker - Guest appearances on keyboards
*Jay Wilson - Keyboards
*Taylor Hicks - Guest appearances on vocals, harmonica (1998-present)
*John Troutman - Guest appearances on guitars, pedal steel guitar
Discography
*Spoonful James (1997, out of print)
*Leave That Door Open (1998)
*"The Sarcophagus Demo" (2000, out of print)
*Seven Mile Breakdown (2001)

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