James King | |
|---|---|
 King performing in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Pop, soul, adult contemporary, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Saxophone, flute, keyboard, percussion, guitar |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Elektra |
| Website | twitter |
James King is an American multi-instrumentalist who is a co-founder for soul band Fitz and the Tantrums. In 2008, he was approached by college friend Michael Fitzpatrick to play saxophone on a few songs that he had written which turned out to be the beginnings of Fitz and the Tantrums.[1] King recommended Noelle Scaggs and other musicians. They performed for the first time a week later at Hollywood's Hotel Café.[2] They released their debut EP Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1[3] in August 2009,[4][5] and the tracks soon received airplay on public radio station KCRW in Los Angeles.[6]
Six months after their first performance they had slots at Lollapalooza and Telluride Blues & Brews.[7] In late 2009 they toured with Hepcat, Flogging Molly, and opened eight concerts for Maroon 5.[8] The band signed to Dangerbird Records in April 2010,[9][10] Their first full-length album, Pickin' Up the Pieces was released on August 24, 2010. It received critical acclaim and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart,[11] 140 on the Billboard 200,[12] and 18 on the Independent Albums chart.
They were called by Vogue Magazine the "Hardest Working Band of 2011".[13] According to Rolling Stone, the band "throws a sparkling pop gloss on a familiar Motown sound"[3]
