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James Edwards Matthews was born in Gloster, Mississippi and later moved to St. Louis, Missouri. He then left St. Louis at six years old to live with his mother in Greenville, Mississippi. His mother built a house in Greenville and opened a club called Desire. James would go to the club?s lower level to listen to, watch, and memorize piano techniques from great entertainers in the club's house band. James studied at Chicago?s Cosmopolitan School of Music after high school. Later, he left Chicago and St. Louis for San Francisco, California. The first 45RPM single (Crossing the Baha b/w In It) on his own I.T. label lists James ?Ironhead? Matthews. Soon after he released his second and final 45RPM single (Ironstein b/w BlueShadow), again on his own I.T. label. James enjoyed the time he spent in San Francisco, however he was happiest coming back to St. Louis to tour with Albert ?B.B.? King and Eddie Fisher. Holland-Dozier-Holland noticed James and offered him a recording contract. Since James was pursuing his spiritual path, he and his church were reluctant to move forward with the recording deal. |
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