Jon St. James is an American guitarist, songwriter–composer, producer and engineer whose Casbah Recording Studio was a hotbed of musical activity in Orange County, California's new music scene in the late 1970s and early to mid 1980s, continuing through the 1990s and beyond. St. James first album was as leader–frontman–songwriter of the progressive rock group French Lick. St James was a pioneer of techno pop and dance music, using Moog synthesizers, electronic effects and tape loops. St. James lived in France for two years, studying Music Concrete with cutting-edge French composers.There he first used the Revox A77 tape machines to create ambient electronic textures. Upon returning from France St. James started the electronic pop group Q (later SSQ) with Stacey Swain (Stacey Q) and Dan Van Patten from Berlin. Q released one single "Sushi" on Cocteau Records in the UK co-owned by Bill Nelson of Bebop Deluxe fame. Q later became SSQ and signed with EMI America on the heels of Jon's success recording the first Berlin album Pleasure Victim. EMI was so impressed with Jon's talent they also signed him to a 6-record solo deal. The first single off St. James's solo album was to be the haunting and seductive song "The Girl Who Seduced The World" which David Bowie wanted for his album Let's Dance. Fate took a nasty turn when EMI America closed its doors almost immediately after the release of the SSQ and Jon St. James albums. St. James was too energized to quit and remained very busy with TV and movie work. Fueled by the disappointment of the EMI fiasco, Jon and Stacey Swain regrouped as Stacey Q. In 1984 and took to the streets of Los Angeles promoting their song "Two of Hearts", which became a worldwide pop smash on Atlantic Records.

Career

As a producer and engineer, St. James presided over several influential recording projects beginning in the 1980s,including records by punk bands The Vandals and Social Distortion, as well as the new wave band Berlin.As a songwriter, guitarist and producer, St. James helped to bring the talents of techno-pop diva Stacey Q, the dance-pop duo Bardeux and the Dance Pop sweetheart Katalina to a wide audience. In addition, St. James has provided musical soundtracks for television and radio, including sound-alike projects for TV's St. Elsewhere and Hill Street Blues, Malcolm in the Middle and Dawson's Creek, among others.As his projects became successful, Jon moved into artist management by default and had his first double Platinum hit with CandyMan "Knockin' Boots" on Epic Records. St. James found a home with Epic and produced and managed the careers of several more acts including the Techno Pop acts Anything Box and Red Flag. Jon often used his skills on guitar, synth and programming to take new talent to the next level. St. James also produced for Enigma/ Restless records and for a time had his own label Synthecide named after an SSQ song.

St. James' growth as an artist and producer has run a parallel course to the growing affordability of electronic devices -- including synthesizers, drum machines and studio effects -- beginning in the late 1970s. As such, his Casbah studios -- purchased using borrowed cash -- became a work in progress, as St. James added more equipment, upgrading from a TEAC 8 using one-inch tape, to a TEAC 16 Track unit using two-inch tape.

Early projects included sound-alike promos for Los Angeles radio station KMET, an album of electronic music with a space navigation theme, and a four-song EP featuring Stacey Swain, who would climb the charts as Stacey Q with the song Two of Hearts, produced by St. James.

The Casbah attracted a variety of talent, including Righteous Brothers keyboardist John Van Tongeren and Berlin drummer, synthesist and producer Dan Van Patten, . Agent Orange, Minute Men, The Adolescents, Rockabilly artists Rocky Burnette, Rip Masters and Christian Glam rockers Stryper were some of Jon's clients. After the success of Stacey Q's Better Than Heaven album, St. James sold the Casbah to members of Social Distortion and opened the new Formula 1 studio in La Habra. F1, as the studio is known, has hosted a wide variety of acts, ranging from Alan Holdsworth, Rusty Anderson of Paul McCartney, The Vandals, Blink 182, Warren Fitzgerald, Josh Freese,Bleeding Through, Jon Anderson of Yes, to No Doubt to Tenacious D.

St. James sold F1 studio to Thump Records a Low Rider Magazine financed record label that Jon produced many artists for. Since then he built a new personal studio where he has continued to record, write and produce. Recent clients include Kung Fu Records, The Warped Tour, The Used, Mike Ness, Warren Fitzgerald of Gwen Stefani, Jason Freese of Green Day. St. James continues to develop young talent most recently the super talented singer, songwriter and up and coming producer Andy Carpenter.

References