…though his name may not be known to some, his sound is well known throughout the world. His signature guitar work on Chris Isaak's single “Wicked Game” helped propel the record to 6 on the Billboard Top 100 chart and the album to multi-platinum status.
After an extended retirement from live performance and recording alike, he is finally releasing his first solo album, “El Dorado” via Lakeshore Records, January 2008.
Originally from Missouri, James moved to California and began playing professionally at age 19 with seminal west coast punk group, The Avengers.
Soon after, he met Isaak and legendary record producer Erik Jacobsen. Together they crafted a new sound based on Isaak's crooning vocal style, and Wilseys' haunting guitar. Collaborating for the next 12 years, they produced four highly regarded albums, culminating with the hit single “Wicked Game”.
The simple two-note riff that opens the song crystallizes Wilsey's approach in the span of a couple seconds, and is instantly identifiable to people around the world and can be heard in countless movie and television soundtracks.
“El Dorado” marks Wilsey's first effort as a solo artist. A purely instrumental album, it pays homage to some of his musical influences; Duane Eddy, The Shadows, Billy Strange, James Burton and Link Wray.
El Dorado is more than a mere homage however; it is one of the most original instrumental albums in many years. Wilsey's retro-futuristic guitar vision comes to the forefront as it never has before. The ten songs cover many styles, yet form a cohesive whole; cinematic in scope, with a distinct western flavor. A true solo effort, Wilsey composed, performed, engineered and produced the entire album himself.
The new issue of Juice Magazine - Issue 66 - featuring ANDY KESSLER (R.I.P.) skating the streets of NYC on the cover (Photo by Ivory Serra) is available now. www.juicemagazine.com.
JUICE MAGAZINE ISSUE 66 features:
ANDY KESSLER interview by STEVE OLSON BEBE BUELL interview by STEVE OLSON BOOTSY COLLINS interview by STEVE OLSON CRAIG JOHNSON interview by JIM MURPHY FRITZ MEAD interview by JIM MURPHY KALANI DAVID interview by JAY ADAMS MIKE WEED interview by STEVE OLSON NATAS KAUPAS interview by STEVE OLSON OMAR SALAZAR interview by STEVE OLSON PAUL SCHMITT interview by STEVE OLSON PETER GUNN interview by MARK "RED" SCOTT and THE CONFESSOR ROB PALMER interview by JIM MURPHY SCOTT CAAN interview by STEVE OLSON JACK GRISHAM of T.S.O.L. interview by STEVE OLSON TIM JACKSON interview by AARON MURRAY WADE SPEYER interview by JIM MURPHY YANIV EVAN interview by STEVE OLSON VENICE SK8 WALL OF FAME features interviews with AARON “FINGERS” MURRAY, BART SARIC, BOB "THE BULLET" BINIAK, C.R. STEYCK III, CESARIO “BLOCK” MONTANO, CHRISTIAN HOSOI, CHUCK KATZ, CRIS DAWSON, DANNY BEARER, DOUG SMITH, ERIC “TUMA” BRITTON, ERIC DRESSEN, GEORGE WILSON, GER-I LEWIS, JAMES "RED DOG" MUIR, JEFF HO, JOEY TRAN, JOSH “BAGEL” KLASSMAN, LANCE LEMOND, MARK MUNSKI, JAY ADAMS, JEF HARTSEL, JESSE MARTINEZ, KELLY JACKSON, PAT BAREIS, PAUL CONSTANTINEAU, PAUL HOFFMAN, PEGGY OKI, RAY FLORES, SKIP ENGBLOM, SUSANNE MELANIE BERRY, TIM JACKSON, WENTZLE RUML IV, WES HUMPSTON.
Aloha James: Eldorado, back in rotation on the CD player at the shop. Was wondering how your new project is comming along? Eldorado was and is the best Guitar Instrumental CD I've heard in 10 years. Thanks for the 10 great tunes. I ready for a New double CD from ya. Mahalo, BJ
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