'James Oppenheim attracted the name Boney while partnering with some of the world's leading musicians. After leaving school, he was blowing the saxophone and determined to make it in the '70s. The musician now headlines as Boney James at his concerts across the world. His hold on the saxophone produces a unique raspy, woodwind voice that is highly recognizable as part of his individual style.'
'
With gritty, rugged textures from the sax, Boney created an alternative to the popular soft, light jazz of the time and aimed to guide his listeners into a real groove. His jazz makes fans dance and move. Boney saw 11 of his LPs hold No. 1 positions on the
Billboard
Jazz Album Chart. From late-night shows with
Jimmy Fallon
to hosting guest artists like
Angie Stone
, Boney's fame grew after getting his music in front of a worldwide audience. He was born in Lowell, Mass., and held his first sax at 10 years old. James did get a degree from the University of California at Los Angeles but dedicated himself to pursuing musical expression. Boney went straight into music after his last day of school. His career started with a general application of music. Whatever opportunity he found, he took, and this meant playing the keyboard at first. Such versatile skills led him into touring with the
Isley Brothers
. It was
Randy Crawford
, the '80s artist behind One Day I'll Fly Away, who gave James his moniker. Today, he continues to tour and perform live across the country.
''If you're looking for Boney James tickets to an upcoming concert, turn to StubHub, the world's largest ticket marketplace. It's easy to find the right tickets on desktop or mobile, and your purchases are protected with the FanProtect guarantee.'
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After traveling with the Isley Brothers, James built his career by working with pop, jazz and R&B artists. His style on the sax has been matched with the talents of Faith Evans,
George Benson
and Raheem DeVaughn. In 2006, he composed Gonna Get It for the powerful voice of
Faith Evans
. His ongoing collaborations include those with
Anthony Hamilton
and vocalist Jaheim.
Eric Benét
teamed with Boney to compose, Ain't No Sunshine, It's all Good and Superwoman.
''The artist aims to work away from the modern notion of smooth jazz. James's work is built on the force of an upbeat tempo. Boney's influences bring R&B and pop stylings together with jazz fundamentals. The result is a sound that inspires love and emotions but that moves with a forward-facing, resolute rhythm.'
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Boney James is an active performer with appearances scheduled for the
Chicago Theatre
in Illinois, the
Greek Theatre
of Los Angeles, Calif., the
Cannon Center for the Performing Arts
in Memphis, Tenn., the
Avalon Casino Ballroom
in Avalon, Calif., and the
Smooth Jazz Festival
of Zoo Miami in Florida. Frankie Beverly and Maze are scheduled to perform with Boney during this festival appearance.
''When seeing Boney live in concert, expect to hear I Still Dream, A Little Attitude, Boneyizm, Butter, Hold On Tight, Don't Let Me Lonely Tonight and Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) on his setlist.'
'James is an exciting performer. His fans look forward to his percussion section and unique jams. Together, Boney's musicians can remake hit songs with a funky twist. He enjoys sharing jokes along with stints of improvisational dancing while he is on stage.'