Smooth Music News

 

Happy birthday [Sept. 1] to Boney James, who turns 49. Born Robert James Oppenheim in Lowell, MA, he took up the saxophone at age 10, citing Grover Washington Jr. as his main influence. After touring for four years with Morris Day (playing keyboards), he went on the road with Randy Crawford where he earned his nickname: because he saved his meal allowance money, one of his bandmates commented on his shrinking physique saying, “We’ll have to start calling you Boney James.”  James worked with the Isley Brothers, Bobby Caldwell and Teena Marie before releasing his debut solo album, Trust, in 1992.   One of the most successful artists in contemporary jazz, he’s currently at work on the follow-up to 2009’s Send One Your Love.