From the bloodline of a musician: Kenneth James born on May 21, 1980. After hearing nothing but retro 70’s music the majority of his childhood, he began honing his skills by beating on his mother’s pots and pans. By the age of seven, he was playing at his church, The Little Mountain of Hope Ministries, where he is still an active member and musician.

Growing up on the east side of Chicago, Kenneth developed many musical talents by the time he entered George Henry Corliss High School. He was an outstanding percussionist and that talent landed him the position of section leader of the drum section in the Corliss Trojan Marching Band. During his four years at Corliss, he elevated the minds of his peers by helping them to think “inside the pocket but outside the box”. This thinking helped the Corliss Trojan band win numerous awards in Chicago, Pine Bluff (Arkansas), New Orleans and Orlando (Florida).

His level headed way of thinking also granted him the opportunity to join the Van Moody Marching Band where he was drum section leader for 3 years. Playing with this band expanded Kenneth’s horizons to playing famous marches such as ‘Washington Post’ and ‘America the Beautiful’.

Upon graduating from high school, Kenneth went on to Colombia College. After one year, he transferred to The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where he learned to play the trumpet. During his three year stay at that university, he honed his percussive skills by learning how to incorporate more rudiments into his funky style of play.

As a result of playing in many different churches, he is well known by almost every established church musician in Chicago. Kenneth expands his horizons once again by actually playing the music that he grew up on in local clubs around the city of Chicago. In joining Ciba & Rhythm on 22nd, Kenneth hopes to enhance the musicians he plays with by bringing depth, volume, funk and feeling to the music he plays – Heart and Soul.

Influences:
Michael Witherspoon, Quest Love, P. Funk & the Parliment Funkadelics, B. B. King III, Average White Band, Ray Choo & The Crew, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Tony Royster Jr., Calvin Rodgers, Dennis Chambers

Kenneth would like to thank:
God, Alexis James and Charles James (mom & dad), the James family, the Sinclair, Glover & Rembert families, Klas, Ciba, Anthony Banks, Rev. Slayton Palms & The Little Mountain of Hope Ministries, Fulldeck, Kevin Graham (who introduced him to Ciba) and last but not least ….. The Underworld Connection.