Guy James

Guy James (born 23 May 1970, Walsall, West Midlands) is an Actor, Singer, Musician, Record Producer and Theatre Director who is best known for playing "Jerry Allison" in the Film and West End MusicAL "Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story". He has also appeared in the National Tours and West End Musicals including playing the roles of "Eugene" in Grease, Schlomo in Fame, Tommy Steele in Elvis and "Rick Astley" in "The Next Big Thing" written by Pete Sinclair and Oscar winner Mark Burton.

As a Director Guy was responsible for the first 1980's musical-comedy "Walking On Sunshine" which he wrote and directed and which toured the UK in 2001. Amongst other productions Guy directed the London Revival of "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" starring Hollywood actor Don Fellows and was Assistant Director on the Hampstead production of "The Fantastiks" and the Finborough production of Charles Miller and Kevin Hammonds' "When Midnight Strikes". Most recently Guy was Resident Director and assistant to Karen Bruce on the UK tour of the Broadway Musical "The Wedding Singer".

As a musician and record producer Guy's biggest achievement has been to produce the best selling musical album "A Girl Of Few Words" for the West End actress Julie Atherton who is best known for her role "Kate Monster" in Avenue Q. Guy also produced albums for Gemma Atkins (Yesterday Today Tomorrow: 3 Stages Of Musical Theatre), Nick Wyschna (Lost In The Wilderness) and Marc Joseph (Clear Blue Sky). Guy also Produced the Original London Cast album of "When Midnight Strikes".

Guy is currently a member of the band Jackdaw4 and is writing and recording their 3rd album (May 2009). Jackdaw4 had a hit with the theme tune for the BBC Comedy "The Cup" which let to their album "Bipolar Diversions" becoming a Prog-Rock best seller.

Early life

Guy was born in Walsall, West Midlands, England. Guy's father was a footballer who spent many years with Birmingham City Football Club and Aston Villa and during Guy's school years at Caludon Castle in Coventry it was obvious that he would be following in his Father's footsteps as a talented footballer and athlete. However, Guy showed a great deal of interest in music lessons and was encouraged to take up the trumpet and piano. Guy's mother was a good guitarist and singer and had always encouraged his artistic talents as a child. After a few months Guy joined the school's Pop band and influenced by other members at his school (Terry Hall from The Specials and Paul King of the band King and his neighbor Jerry Dammers gradually music started to take priority.

Guy joined many bands in and around Coventry including Four Minute Warning (later FMW) and Bunny Taylor and the Elevators and went through a number of development deals before getting disheartened with the music industry.

Theatre

In 1986, Guy was asked by a friend of his mothers to join the local amateur group in Bedworth to participate in their new production of Calamity Jane and it was there that his interest in theatre began. After a few years Guy was offered a place at the prestigious "Coventry School of Music Youth Operetta Group" and it was whilst playing the role of "Georgie" in the musical "Blitz!" that Lionel Bart (the shows composer) suggested he should pursue a professional career and got him a place with the National Youth Theatre (which Guy bravely turned down). A short time later, whilst playing the lead role in the musical Godspell he was spotted by an agent who offered him the opportunity to audition for the West End Musical "Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story". After a second audition he was offered the role of "Jerry Allison" (the drummer in The Crickets). During his time in the show Guy also played the same role in the Film and the recording of the production. (Guy later returned to the production in 2003 to play "Tommy" and understudy the lead role of "Buddy").

Other roles over the last 15 years Guy has appeared as Tommy Steele in "Elvis - The Musical" (UK Tour), and various roles in "The Sound Of Fury - The Billy Fury Story" (UK Tour) both for Bill Kenright, "Eugene" in "Grease" (UK Tour), "Schlomo" in "Fame" (London's West End), Rick Astley in "The Next Big Thing' (West End). He has also appeared in the shows "Heaven Can Wait", "Summer In The City" and "Itchycoo Park" on UK Tours and many pantomimes including Prince Charming in "Cinderella" (Shrewsbury) and Prince in "Snow White" in Manchester.

During his performing years Guy developed a talent for directing and his first challenge was to direct the London Revival of "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" at the Landor Theatre in Clapham. His great coup with this was to pursued Hollywood actor Don Fellows to appear as Mr Biggley. Guy was later commissioned to write and direct the 1980's Musical Comedy "Walking On Sunshine" which opened in Wimbledon in 2003 (starring his now fiance Sarah Beaumont) prior to a UK Tour. He has assisted on many productions including "The Fantastiks" (Hampstead) and the critically acclaimed "When Midnight Strikes" (Finborough Theatre, London). He was most recently Resident Director on the UK tour of the Broadway hit Musical "The Wedding Singer" starring Jonathan Wilkes and Natalie Casey.

Recording work

Guy has appeared on many commercially available recordings including "Jerry Allison" on "Buddy Live!" on which he also plays drums. He also sings the roles of Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens on the Studio Cast Recording of "Heaven Can Wait" for Tiger Records. Guy is a member of the rock group Jackdaw4 lead by Willie Dowling (ex-Honeycrack. Along with their two albums "Gramophone Logic" and "Bipolar Diversions" (plus new one due Summer 2009) Jackdaw4 also supplied the theme tune to the BBC football comedy "The Cup" and the Caroline Quentin sitcom "The Life Of Riley". As a Producer Guy was responsible for West End star Julie Atherton's first solo album "A Girl Of Few Words" and he is currently working on her follow-up. He also produced musical star Gemma Atkins' "Yesterday Today Tomorrow", Nick Wyschna's "Lost In The Wilderness', West End performer Marc Joseph's album "Clear Blue Sky" and the Original London Cast Recording of "When Midnight Strikes". Guy is Executive Producer for MaKiNG Records and a huge promoter of new musical theatre. In June 2008 MARTIN GUITARS added Guy to their artist endorsement program, joining an estimable list of musicians including Beck, Eric Clapton and Sting.

External links

• Official site
• Record Company
• [http://www.Jackdaw4.com Band Website