MUSIC has taken Jamaican-born soul singer Jimmy James on an incredible journey over the last half century rubbing shoulders with the likes of The Beatles, The Who and Jimi Hendrix and performing with his band The Vagabonds at London’s legendary Marquee club in the 60s. But as Jimmy recalls it was all quite by accident.

“I fell into the business many years ago when I was backing home in Jamaica,” said Jimmy.

“I wrote a song, some producers heard it, liked it and said ‘why don’t you come in and give a lead voice so the other person could follow it?’ I thought ‘don’t ask me to do that because I’m no singer’.”

Despite Jimmy’s reservations he recorded a vocal and the song was soon being played on the radio.

Jimmy went on to forge a successful solo career in Jamaica and by the early 60s had joined forces with an established band, The Vagabonds, who needed a lead singer to accompany them on their UK tour.

On arrival in the UK, Jimmy and The Vagabonds gained a residency at London’s Marquee Club, where they supported The Who.

The band signed to Pye Records in 1966 and became a big attraction on the tour circuit.

The next stroke of fortune in Jimmy’s career was when music journalist James Hamilton overheard the band recording the Neil Diamond composition Red Red Wine.

Jimmy recalls: “He said ‘hey! That is a single’, we said ‘don’t talk nonsense, no DJ is going to play this’.

“It was so outside what was popular at the time, but the thing took off.”

Jimmy followed with further success in the 70s, teaming up with Indian producer Biddu to produce further hits Now Is the Time and I’ll Go Where the Music Takes Me.

Next month Jimmy visits Porthcawl with another soul star Ben E King. “Am I Looking forward to it?” he laughs. “Boy, oh boy touring with a legend!” Jimmy however doesn’t regard himself legendary. “More antique,” he jokes.

“I get people who grew up with us and their children coming along . “We’re fortunate because it’s lasted for generations.

“Unlike today, when you wrote songs back then it wasn’t just about the rhythm and the beat, it was about the lyrics!”

Catch Jimmy James and Ben E King at The Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl on Friday, August 23. See grandpavilion.co.uk for details.