Article Reprint from the August 2001 BluesNotes
By LynnAnn Hyde
A very long while ago, I walked into a tavern in Gresham to listen to a young woman sing. I had only met her once and was curious about her singing and the choice of material she was covering. The bar was crowded with folks of every sort and it was hard to get in the door. The band started up and a beautiful wild-haired girl got up from a table and walked to center stage. In one instant, her powerful voice filled the room, silencing the crowd. Megan James delivered Elmore James', "It Hurts Me Too", with incredible control and phrasing. Her voice was rich with layers of emotion and tone and the entire room was captivated. Her petite frame wracked with pure passion, she was smiling and there were tears in her eyes. The music meant that much and she meant every word. Sweat glistening on her face. This powerhouse singer hit one last earth-shaking note before bending her head in silent acceptance of the thunderous applause that literally shook the light fixtures above her head. In three minutes time, this young lady had taken me on an emotional tour of lost and unrequited love that brought me from the height of ecstasy to the depths of despair and back again. Her voice belied her youth, in testament to the oldest struggle in human history and she cried the Blues. The first time I heard one of the most beautiful voices in the region was in a beer joint dive off Stark Street; it was there that I heard Megan James.
Some of you may remember the first CBA event Megan sang at ('96 CBA picnic,
thanks to Susan Stewart's efforts, Megan sang with me and my old band,
Good Thang, and may recall her extraordinary performance at the Paulette Davis
Benefit / Memorial, or you might have seen her at many of the festivals and
events she performs at. Megan has been nominated for a "Muddy Award"
for "Best New Act", by the CBA membership, and has performed countless
nightclub, dance hall, and concert dates. She has recorded many CD's for NW
bands and has also recorded for commercial industry markets. There is no doubt
that Megan is one of our very best female vocalists, but she is also a talented
songwriter and composer, loving mother and wife, and active in tutoring piano
students (pro bono!) from her home. Catching up with this working musician,
full-time Mom, and part-time "piano lady" was no easy task.
BN: (BluesNotes) Your voice and control is incredible! Did you study music or take formal training?
MJ: (Megan James) Yes, my Mom made me take classical voice lessons with a nun she had studied with at Laurelhurst College, Sister Claudia. One day she said I would always have a sweet little voice. I was so insulted! To this day I'm still trying to prove her wrong."
BN: You have often credited your family with your abilities to sing harmony, can you tell us a little about that?
MJ: "I'm the youngest of three sisters. As far back as I can remember, my oldest sister made me sit beside her and sing harmony parts to her while she taught herself to play guitar. There were many grueling hours. We had to sing at every family function, which was awful at the time, but in retrospect, I'm very grateful. I have a very supportive family. I enjoy singing three part harmonies more than singing lead. When the vocals can make a chord in the music, there's nothing like it.
BN: When did you decide to sing Blues, and who was your "model" for vocal delivery and technique?
MJ: "Well, you (LynnAnn Hyde) turned me onto a lot of Blues music and you also introduced me to Terry Robb. The first time I saw Terry at The Candlelight, I was completely blown away. So, I went back again and again, and wrote down all of the songs they were playing and learned a lot of them. Eventually, I made a big enough pest of myself that they let me sit in occasionally. Terry told me about artists I should study and he has even helped me with some of my own songs.
Albert Reda, Alan Hager, and Carlton Jackson did some gigs with me. They made me feel like I had something to offer. Their individual skills, their abilities to perform as a unit and their professional attributes all made a big impression with me. I will always be grateful to those guys. Alan's singing gives me enough inspiration to last for the next 20 years!
BN: After performing with numerous musical "greats", as both bandleader and guest vocalist, are there any gigs that really stand out?
MJ: I did the Blues Festival with Women In Blues, 8 pm, July Fourth. There were tons of people, and every one of them was into it ...and for the first time, I felt like I should be singing. It was a big turn around for me and I will never forget that feeling. I owe that night to Sonny Hess. Even though the crowd broke up because of the fireworks, it was great. It was just a great night for me.
BN: Are there any gigs that you would like to do and how would you like to do them?
MJ: I think all I ever really wanted to do was play the main stage at the Waterfront Blues Festival right here in Portland. I did that this year and if I die tomorrow, I'll be very happy with what I have accomplished.
BN:
Can you tell us how you hooked up with Women In Blues and what has come
out of that?
MJ: With the split up of my last band, I was ready to quit the business. Sonny Hess had heard me sing and put me to work with Women In Blues. Eventually, she put together Girl's Night Out. She's hooked me up with some of the greatest female talent in this area, for example, Linda Hornbuckle, Janice Scroggins, Myrtle Brown, Lisa Mann and Sheila Wilcoxson to name just a few. There's new talent introduced all of the time and I'm excited to work with them, too. Not only are they generous musicians, they have become my friends. Imagine going to "work" and hanging out with your buddies! It's just a whole lot of fun.
BN: What is it like being in an all-female act? Can you tell us something about your bandmates?
MJ: For example, in Girl's Night Out, I get to sing with two other lead singers whose voices meld together very well. I can ask for whatever I want musically, without any guff, because we're all friends. And, no one asks me which band member I'm sleeping with! The band is a core trio and we are all women. Sonny Hess is the guitar player and she also fronts her Power Band. She is supportive, professional, and true to her word. Lisa Mann plays bass and is also a lead and supporting vocalist. She is an extremely well rounded player and I admire her both personally and professionally. I'm grateful to be a part of this act.
BN: There is an almost painful urgency in your delivery, a way you emotionalize songs, causing the listener to experience your feelings. You are a great storyteller as well as singer. How does that work with what you are doing right now?
MJ: I guess that I am very passionate about music. It's become an emotional outlet for me. Sometimes, I am so consumed with the energy of the music all my emotions come out on stage. When the crowd responds, it just adds to the momentum. Much of the material I do has meaning to me, personally.
BN: How do you feel about singing mostly "contemporary" pop music, compared to previous acts that were mainly Blues and classic R&B?
MJ: It's fun to stretch out. This is a great vehicle for harmonies.
BN: You have several recordings available on compilation discs. Are you considering producing a full-length disc of your own?
MJ. Of course I would consider it. If the right opportunity came along, I would take it!
BN: Is there another Megan James Band in the near future?
MJ: I am happy with what I'm doing right now.
BN: Can you offer any advice to aspiring vocalists?
MJ: Figure out what you like, try to find the root of that music and study it! Learn as much as you can from the people you admire. Then, make a pest of yourself
------------------
I also know that Megan does the occasional gig (with Kinzel &
Hyde), as
well as fronts voice for Jesse
Samsel, sings with The Party
Kings, and several
others in town. Megan has the extraordinary ability to sing any kind of music
and she can "sight read" (read sheet music and follow the melody from
the printed page) making her a hot commodity with studios and musicians alike.
It is her stage presence and her powerful live performances that really set her
apart from the many other wonderful singers around. As glamorous and exciting as
the nightclub act is, Megan James is truly down to earth and focuses much of her
energy into her home and family. The responsibilities of parenting two small
children are her priority and she is quick to point out that she "has the
greatest guy in the world!" with husband Jeff at her side. Megan also
enjoys the outdoors, and is an accomplished athlete. It is hard to imagine this
sultry beauty doing anything besides belting out the Blues, yet her active life
actually limits her stage performances to just a few during the month.
Megan James is currently performing with Lisa Mann and Sonny Hess in Girl's Night Out each Thursday at the Trail's End (Oregon City), as well as many outdoor events and festivals. She sings with Women In Blues and other ensembles regularly. Megan is one of the featured artists on the CBA's "Acoustic Roots & Blues 2000" CD and has several of her recordings available through the "regular" outlets.
Photos by Some Kinda Dufus
© 2001 Cascade Blues Association