While still in his teens, Christopher Phoenix James headed south to live in the land where blues began performing with various blues groups from Clarksdale, Mississippi to Dallas, Texas. With a firm rooting in the Mississippi Blues, Chris uses the Guitar, Mandolin, Harmonica, Banjo, and Ukulele to climb out many musical branches leading to New Orleans, Mississippi, Hawaii, Jamaica, Appalachia, and Africa. He has recorded with Guy Davis on three albums, including the Grammy nominated Be Ready When I Call You. He has released five original albums, which have won awards from the Maryland State Arts Council for composition and performance, and received Wammie nominations for Best Blues Recording, and Best Blues Vocalist. Chris has taught classes at Common Ground On The Hill in Maryland (for 18 years) and Summer Acoustic Music Week in New Hampshire (for 10 years) where he is known for making music accessible and welcoming to everyone. Through teaching, recording, writing, and performing Chris shares his belief in music’s power to bring us together and lift us up.

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