James Hooker

The Grammy Award Winning co-founder of "The Amazing Rhythm Aces", was born July 20th, 1948, in Winnsboro, South Carolina. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Brown Sr. He is the divorced father of three daughters.

James began working nightclubs during his 9th grade year. After high school, he lived first in Charleston, SC, then Charlotte, NC. In 1968, he moved to Memphis and started a long period of productive road and studio work. He was a member of the HI Rhythm Section at the old Royal Recording Studio, which was the home of HI Records. At HI, James recorded with: Willie Mitchell, Al Green, Ann Peebles, Otis Clay, O.V. Wright, Syl Johnson, Donald Bryant, Ace Cannon, and Bill Black's Combo. He took various road gigs while in Memphis, including Eddie Floyd and Al Green. It was with Floyd that he met and recorded with Jimi Hendrix in early 1970; this was before James changed his name from Brown to Hooker. If anyone reading this knows the status of these recordings with Jimi Hendrix,, please email James at: info@615songs.com. He would love to hear the recordings after more than 30 years.

In 1971, James pulled up stakes and went to work for Rick Hall at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals Alabama. As a member of the FAME Gang, He took part in many sessions that produced many hit records under Ricks tutelage. While at FAME, James first started writing songs with an eye at making a living at it.

At the end of 1972, James moved back to Memphis. This is when Willie Mitchell bought a young guy by the name of Al Green to the studio. James performed on all of Al's albums through "Belle" It was around this time that James was brought on staff at Sam Phillips Recording Studios. While working for Sam and Knox Phillips, a rag-tag bunch of guys from Knoxville stumbled in one day in early 1975. They were to become The Amazing Rhythm Aces and James was asked to join them. He thus became a founding member. (The "Amazing" wasn't even part of the name yet-it was adopted to avoid a conflict with "Bobby Moore and the Rhythm Aces."

After five years of ups and downs with the Aces, it was over, and James returned to a more sane life.

Then he lost his mind again!

In 1983, James joined Steve Winwood for a European tour. Also in 83-84, he took part in the ARMS concert at The Royal Albert Hall, and the subsequent ARMS American tour. In 1986, James joined Winwood again for the "Back In The High Life" tour. James´s song ¨Freedom Overspill¨ appeared on Back In The High Life.

1987 saw James join Nanci Griffith.

James has left the road...for now. Never say never?

He remains an Amazing Rhythm Ace, though he does not tour with them any longer.

James now makes his home in County Tipperary, Ireland and Mallorca, Illes de Balears, España.

He's having fun. He'll write and record for the rest of his days.