Full Name: Ezra Ezekiel James ala "Zeke"

Genre: Rock/Blues

Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee

Current Residence: Chicago, Illinois



A child of a record store owner father and an artist mother. It seemed music was in Ezra's blood from the beginning. Along with the power to create. Growing up around a father who owned a record store he was exposed to all types of music as long as he could remember. "Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, Bob Marley. It seemed like there wasn't anything that didn't seem foreign to my ears. I was surrounded by it. There was always something playing in my house or at the record store. I ended up hanging out there almost all the time. My dad's record store was like my church. I was there all the time listening to whatever he put on. Then found my own way eventually. It just progressed."

After teaching himself to play he spent most of his time playing on the street corners of his home town in Memphis. What resulted was his introduction into the thriving blues scene in Memphis. Sitting in with different musicians and elder statesmen he ended up getting an informal education of sorts. "I ended up deciding not to graduate high school. I dropped out my junior year, packed my car with what belongings I had, said goodbye to my folks, and set out. Had about 50 bucks, some clothes, and my guitar in my backseat. I wanted to see the world and play music doing it."

For the longest time James was living out of his car and living on a busker's salary of whoever decided to give him money. Since leaving Tennessee. He'd been to Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, California, Washington, and Oregon. Before finally finding himself in Chicago where he settled. "After pretty much drifting from state to state my gypsy blood eventually stopped boiling. I found my mecca in Chicago and just stayed. There were plenty of blues clubs and other places to jam. Very little convincing was done for me to stay. How the hell I managed to make it all over the country with just over minimum wage, staying with whoever the hell would let me, squatting, or living in my car is insane to me. But I managed it."

After settling down in one place it didn't take long for somebody to find him. Then slap a record label on him. Friend and current producer Johnny McDougal was able to pin him down. "I'd met Zeke in Lousiana years back when he was some how managing to live out of the back of a Ford Taurus. While living in New Orleans. How he never got mugged or robbed is nothing short of miraculous. Every time I'd talk about wanting him to join the label he was always receptive. We'd busked together and hung out on many occasions. But I'd call him back and the current track phone or whatever he'd been using was dead. It was like trying to find a ghost. Thankfully when he finally turned up it was a no-brainer."

So after all this Ezra will be putting out his own single and 7" very soon. Somebody who is as traveled as this guy must have a whole lot of blues, music, and stories to tell that could make him stand out as an artist.

Zeke: I could write a book of the shit I've been through, the women I've been with (who broke my heart or otherwise, thankfully no kids have popped up yet), and the places I've got drunk at. Some bars just got stories written on em'. Yeah Memphis, just is. It's Memphis. It's got it's own definition. Whatever you're looking for there you can find it.

The 5 song LP and 7" vinyl is the first officially recorded endeavor of Ezra James. The recording was done in the home headquarters of friend and producer Johnny McDougal. Who did very little to alter the album. Only making minor alterations to the final product. James had run of the studio to make the recording as he saw fit. After the last mastering of the product James and McDougal both provided liner notes. The musicians brought in were from Ezra's own band as well as Johnny providing the harmonica work.

Living 100 Proof:

Track Listing:

1. The Devil Takes Care of His Own
2. All The Same
3. Polly Poison
4. Burned Out In Biloxi
5. Low Country

Liner Notes From Ezra:

1. The Devil Takes Care of His Own

This was a song I wrote about how some bad folks just seem to be protected. Politicians, business men, anybody in power, the corrupt, and of course beautiful women. None of the prayers by the holiest of men can save them. Especially a woman in a red dress. How she did me wrong. So wrong. They know how to pull the wool over your eyes and sweet talk the hell out of you. It was a simple stripped down tune with a simple two step beat. One of those dirt floor stomping blues tunes. Direct and to the point.

2. All The Same

Being a black man that grew up mostly down south. I saw some dark racist shit. But it seemed no matter where I went. I was met with opposition and people telling me no. Sometimes not even because of the color of my skin. No music here. No singing there. I was disturbing the peace or soliciting. I meant no harm at all. I got locked up once for playing in subway station. It seemed that everybody was down on me. Couldn't catch a break any where. This one was louder and I laid down the lap steel real hard on it. Real raw and deep. Like any blues tune should be.

3. Polly Poison

Polly Poison is of course about a woman. You ever meet one of those girls that could at first do no wrong too you? She could be sickly sweet, give you good love, and then turn on you to be a demon bitch from the ninth circle. But you kept coming back. Not so much for the kindness any more. The physical contact became a drug. The love was not present any more and you were staying together simply for the sex. She had what you kept coming back for even it was killing you and what you had. I just got up one day and left her in bed in the early morning. It was hard to do when she was the only roof over my head. Though I miss her. It was good love that just went wrong.

4. Burned Out In Biloxi

This was a true story about hitting some juke joints in Biloxi. Then combining it with cocaine and acid. I was speeding down the interstate at a speed that would've killed me had I hit anything solid. The acid had me thinking that the hounds of hell were after me. The coke just had me jacked up as all hell. Eventually the cops stopped me some how without wrecking me. I was taken out of the car and beat pretty bad. Because there were no drugs in my car they could only get me with a DUI and some other trumped up charges. Which were later dismissed thanks to a good lawyer and the fact that I was a victim of police brutality.

5. Low Country

A simple song about wanting to be home. The low country and the hills is something that I miss deeply in my travels. There are just some things about the places I've been that don't live up to home. I think that's something anybody can relate too. I love the city. But I'm at home in the country. It's something deeply ingrained in my blood.

Edited by user 11 April 2013 02:34:37(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Ooc: more Ezra is what this place needs.

Ezra: Did I mention I was dating a French girl? Amazing what one night, some alcohol, and french fries will do.

Destinee: A French girl...? What was her name...?

Erich: once I get all this touring out of the way,we should get together. Have some drinks and cover some Cadillacs with a fine layer of red clay. It is always good to hear people I consider "real musicians" ,dig my stuff. We will set the woods on fire..and as one male to another. *thumbs up and grins*