Michael "Jimmy" James (13 September 1940 – 14 May 2024) was a Jamaican-British soul singer,[2] known for songs like "Come to Me Softly", "Now Is the Time" and "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me".
[3][2] He grew up and began performing in Kingston, Jamaica, where he recorded as a solo artist with producers Coxsone Dodd, Clancy Eccles, and Lyndon Pottinger.
After meeting manager Peter Meaden in 1965,[4] Jimmy James and the Vagabonds supported the Who and Rod Stewart who was with his group the Steampacket at the Marquee Club in London.
The band played the Shanklin Pier ballroom on the Isle of Wight in June 1965 and returned for two further sold-out concerts that summer.
[6] The Vagabonds and the Experience also played the Ricky Tick and Upper Cut clubs in London in December 1966 and January 1967 respectively, and at the Beachcomber Ballroom in Nottingham.
The band also played as support for the Who, Sonny & Cher, Rod Stewart (who was also on Pye Records at the time) and the Rolling Stones.
Phil Chen performed bass on Rod Stewart songs such as "Hot Legs", "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
[9] Former Vagabonds bass player Alan Wood (1973–77) now runs his own management agency and represents Paul Carrack.