Bio – Born in the East End of London, only a stone’s throw with a very good arm from Upton Park. Dreamt of playing for the Hammers and when the scouts ignored me I moved to Aberdeen – so there, that showed ’em. Parents from Cork and Dublin, which is a bit like someone from Edinburgh marrying a Glaswegian. Arrived in Edinburgh in 1989 and have been here ever since, first in the Southside, then became a Leither blow-in back in 1998. Play piano, piano accordion, acoustic guitar and one blues tune on the harp (but not often in public) and was forced to play the cello at school – a beautiful instrument but not good for street cred. Have doubled my song-writing efforts since joining the Fabulous Corvettes (grand total of 4 tunes, yeehah!)
Previous Outfits -Taking the Mic organiser/reluctant compere at Linsay’s, Brunswick Street until it closed Christmas 2007 sadly – a very fine venue, run by Linsay, the Hostess with the Mostess, which was also the nerve centre of the Edinburgh Free Fringe Festival http://www.freefestival.co.uk
The James Carr Elastic Band (2004 – 2006) – flexible line up ensured surprises aplenty, like the harp player in Perthshire who wouldn’t give me my microphone back
The Nameless Folk Ensemble (1998 – 2000) – started out busking on the Royal Mile during the Festival, first gig was a wedding
The James Carr Band (1995 – 1998 ) – blues, soul and rock n’ roll – motto was ‘Never play a wedding.’
The Swamp Donkeys (1992 – 1993) – blues, soul and rock n’roll, featuring James ‘Maddog’ Carr (quite a friendly bloke really)
Near misses – too many too mention every Monday at 5 a-side football
Influences – to name but a few … Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, The Band, Elvis Presley, James Brown, Otis Redding, Van Morrison, Jim Reeves, The Dubliners, Tom Waits, Bob Marley, Freddie White, Dick Gaughan, Christy Moore, Luka Bloom, John Mercer, my parents and sisters, and The Fabulous Corvettes!
Also plays with…The Universal Exports www.myspace.com/theuniversalexports
Claims to fame – The James Carr Band played the Riverdance after show party for cast and crew (OK, mainly crew) and by a fluke of billing were once supported by the Luther Vandross “Stars in their Eyes” winner.
Appeared in an episode of Rab C. Nesbitt in 1995 as a restaurant Maitre’De for all of 30 seconds and then disappeared from the small screen.
Equipment/Endorsements
41CR4045: Frontalini 120 Bass Piano accordion. 7 Treble, 2 Bass voicing – Like one of my two accordions, but better!
– James B. Carr
THE FABULOUS CORVETTES! 
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