Ginger St. James
With her sultry and powerful voice, her sassy and commanding stage presence, and a repertoire that blends country, rock n’ roll and blues, Ginger St. James stands out as one of Canada’s most exciting performers.
Following the tradition of country songbirds like Loretta Lynn, Ginger writes and sings music from real experience; growing up on the family farm, being broke, having fun, and love gone wrong.
Her early life in Binbrook, Ontario was heavily influenced by American southern culture, listening to country radio in the barn. Although trips with Dad to the vintage car and rockabilly shows had their impact, her signature song ‘Country Bumpkin’, proves that this gal is more Hee Haw than Happy Days.
A born entertainer, St. James began writing songs and telling jokes at 3 years old. Inspired by watching musicals, cabaret and listening to Big Band 8 tracks at Nanny and Grandad’s, she enrolled in jazz and tap dance lessons, performed in school plays and spent a summer at the Theatre Aquarius acting camp.
She began a successful career as a dancer, actress and model, driven by her natural charisma and passion for the stage.
Feeling the most “in her own skin” expressing herself musically, St. James began focusing on singing, songwriting and learning guitar licks. She moved to Toronto where she met guitarist Snowheel Slim, who became her songwriting partner and bandleader. St. James eventually moved back to Hamilton where she has established a solid fan base, expanding her reach across Canada with countless major festival, fair, theatre and headline appearances.
She released her first EP, Spank, Sparkle & Growl, which won Alt/Country Recording of the Year at the 2010 Hamilton Music Awards. Independent Canadian label Let’s Riot Music signed St. James in 2012 and released her follow up EP, Tease.
In 2014, she released her debut full-length album, “Diesel & Peas”. This caught the attention of Busted Flat Records, who signed Ginger to release “One For The Money” in 2016. She recorded 3 tunes for the HBO TV series Call Me Fitz,
and has most recently had one of her tracks licensed in the feature film I’ll Take Your Dead.
Her “pedal to the metal” band has opened for legends like Robert Gordon, Revered Horton Heat, Johnny Reid and Sleepy LaBeef. Hamilton’s View Magazine named her ‘Best Female Artist’ for four consecutive years, and in 2015 she took home ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ at the Hamilton Music Awards.
Apart from her musical talents, St. James is also a successful entrepreneur. She has just launched her own concert promotion company, and provides CD & vinyl manufacturing services to musicians through Disc Runner.
She gives back to her community with her annual breast
cancer fundraiser “Bands for Boobs”, now in its 5th year.
This “chick from the sticks” won’t be taking any time to hang out in the barnyard in 2018, as she promotes her latest release “Live At Knox Farms” (a project with producer James McKenty), and features in the Bell Fibe Series Songs From The Hammer.
She’ll wrap up the year with more shows across Ontario, with a cross Canada tour in the works for 2019.
* Winner of “Female Vocalist of the Year” at 2015’s Hamilton Music Awards
* View Magazine (Hamilton)’s Best Female Artist (2008-2013)
* 2014 Hamilton Spectator Reader’s Choice Diamond Award: Best Local Musician
* Two songs featured on the HBO Television Series “Call Me Fitz”
* Supports for Robert Gordon, Johnny Reid, The Blasters, Reverend Horton Heat and Sleepy LaBeef
* “Please Mister Driver” featured on Classic Rock Magazine’s 2012 Young, Gifted & Blues CD
* Alt/Country Recording of the Year at the 2010 Hamilton Music Awards
PRESS
Calgary Herald (Canada)
Keys And Chords (Belgium)
Rootsville (Holland)
Vue Weekly (Canada)
Canadian Beats (Canada)
Hamilton Blues Lover (Canada)
Midwest Record (U.S.)
LA Beat (Canada)
Jeremy Rees On The Air (U.K.)
High Note Reviews (U.S.)
Concert Monkey (Belgium)
Fervor Coulee (Canada)
Bman's Blues Report (Canada)
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(her name started with a) Capital C (Single)
One For The Money
Diesel And Peas
