Country music legend. Lance James is still hitting the stage at the tender age of 81, loved by many adoring fans, especially, in his local area of Randburg where he has stayed for over 54 years. James has been blowing up the music scene for decades – literally.
Making tunes in both English and Afrikaans, he has fans from all over. In June this year James released what could be his last album – Swan Song. He shared, “Swan Song actually means the end, the end of my career.
We called it that because you know, as I say, I have been around for a while so sooner or later it was bound to happen. “My record company keeps telling me it’s probably not going to be the ‘ Swan Song’ because it is selling very well.”
Earlier this year he was awarded the prestigious FAK (The Federation of African Cultural Societies) Afrikaanse award. Doing things a little different this time around, James stepped out of his comfort zone and featured a number of genres on this album.
“My son-in-law is a music producer and I loved being in studio with him, you know, learning new things. We came up with new songs that I knew but I’ve never recorded that type of music before. “I’m basically a country music artist but on the new one I’ve got a whole lot of options from swing to gospel, country, of course, and a bit of rock and roll.
“It was exciting for me at this time in my career to be singing other kinds of songs, it’s just nice to do it again.” Apart from his latest album, James will also be launching a new book in December this year. Titled Lance James and Friends, the colour picture is a thank you to everyone who has walked the journey with James. James has been in the media industry for a long time and started out has a broadcaster on Springbok Radio in 1967.
He still currently records his weekly radio show which is broadcast on 28 different stations globally. Having spent some time in England, James returned to South Africa and started recording hits in the ‘60s and had his breakthrough hit in the ‘70s. “In the late ‘70s I recorded an Afrikaans song called Dankie which means ‘thank you’ in Afrikaans and that was my breakthrough. “I think I was 27 at the time and all these years later people still listen to it.
It’s a song that people would shout for when I walk on stage, one they want to hear. “So yes, you could say that was my big break which led to quite a number of songs that were very popular.” With an immense passion for music James described the feeling he gets from performing as a highlight.
“Every time I walk on the stage, it’s a highlight for me, whether I bring a smile or even a tear, those are highlights for me. “The highlight being that I am able to make contact with the people.” His future plans are to continue his path and music and perhaps record another album. “I am going to continue doing what I do and that’s entertaining , whether I record a new album again who knows?” Catch Lance James at Blairgrowie Shopping Centre on 7 December for a signed copy of his new book, Lance James and Friends.
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