The blues singer James Hunter was born in Colchester, Essex in 1962 and began his playing career with a small blues combo called Howlin' Wilf and the Vee-Jays performing gigs in and around the London blues scene. The band released their first album in 1986 and shortly afterwards Hunter left to pursue his solo ambitions.
The London blues circuit in the 1990s included venues such as the Weavers in Islington and the famous 100 Club and it was whilst playing these venues in the capital that Hunter came to the attention of Van Morrison.The Irish singer subsequently made a guest appearance on Hunter's debut release on the Ace label titled 'Believe What I Say' by singing backing vocals on two tracks on the album, 'Turn On Your Love Light' and 'Ain't Nothing You Can Do'. Hunter reciprocated the favour on two of Morrison's later album releases.
After struggling to achieve any significant commercial success in the UK Hunter's first solo release in the US 'People Gonna Talk' in 2006 proved to be his breakthrough album and he was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Blues Album category.
