Page 30 - July 2021

James Lynas
I was Born in Belfast an still live there.
I first started listening to Country music at about 6 or 7 years old and by the time I was 8, I was singing at house parties for family and friends. My main influences would have been an still are. The likes of Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Johnny Cash, George Strait, Elvis Presley, Buck Owens ect.
Though I was a devoted country fanatic. My first appearance on the music scene was as an Elvis Tribute Artist when I was 17.
I realized I could impersonate Elvis from I was about 15 an got up an sang in a local bar an was spotted by a local Entertainer who took me under his wing. Before I new it I had an 11 piece band behind me doing some big shows round the North.
But it never felt right to me as I never liked dressing in the jump suites or dying my hair.
By the time I was 20 I gave it up an went my own way. I started my own band which was a cover band an fell into the same routine as most other cover bands just playing the local club scenes.
But I was never happy with it as again it never felt write to me. As in my heart I wanted to sing real country music but at that time country wasn’t cool were I was from. So I gave up singing off an on for years.
It wasn’t until I was in my 30s I decided to make a video singing Kieth Whitley’s Dont Close Your Eyes an sent it to the Phil Mac Country Show on the off chance they would show it. And they did. And thats were things started happening.
A well known song writer by the name off John Cole from the U.S.A who wrote a hit for Daniele O’Donnel called I’m Just Lucky I Guess. Heard me.
He then sent me a song to record called Bottle Top Bars And Midnight Ladies. Which I recorded an also made a video for.
The video was aired on every Sky TV country music show there is. Hot Country , Keltic Country , Smith An Jones Show , Phil Mac Show an a few more.
Then another fantastic writer by the name of Jon Philibert who wrote a hit for Tom Jones contacted me an asked if I would like to record a song for him called She Don’t Look That Lonely To Me. Which was also released a while back by Mick Flavin. Which I did. This song hit number one in
blown away by.
I have also recorded great songs written by Ed Bentley
and Ernest Corallo which is called That Old Porch Swing Which is being aired round the globe.
I now have a full live band together again which just recently played our first 15 sell-out shows.
And at last I get to sing the songs I love and hopefully keep singing to remind the younger generation what real country music is about.
I just recently recorded another of Jon Philibert songs called “I wish every night was Saturday night”, I think it is one of the best I have recorded so far, as it suits country music across the globe and it is going down a storm.
We just played to a sell-out show at a jail in Belfast and we are due to play at the American Consulate in Belfast in June. So things are looking good.
I still hold down a 45 hour week in a day job to support my family of 4 young children.
In 2017 I appeared on BBC1 Keepin Er Country And RTE1 Stetsons & Stiletoes.
I also appeared on TV3 Celebrity Goggle Box that included Mel Gibson , Will Ferrell , Mark Wahlberg and John Lithgow.
My song I wish every night was Saturday was recently featured in a movie called a bump along the way
So me in a nut shell. I just wanna help keep Real
Country Music Alive.
July 2015 on the Europeon Country Charts. Which I was 30