Album Notes

The streets of East Oakland, CA are renowned for begetting hardened souls and criminal activity, hardly the birthing place of an R&B singer. J. Banks defies limitations placed on him by skeptics and critics alike, to produce a sound so profoundly unique, that one would be hard pressed to not take notice. As a boy, he discarded his talent for sports, deciding that the world he hails from would look more favorably upon a young black athlete. However, his affinity for the art and his undeniable gift led him down the path of music, where he has remained ever since. Jamie’s first began to realize his dream of being a singer with his first R & B group called Shadow. He gained more confidence while performing for family and winning various talent shows, such as Apollo in the City and Kimball’s Bay Area Talent Search. He has since gone on to open up for groups such as Tony Tone Toni and Chico Debarge and later in Vegas @ the Aladdin, Fitzgerald’s and The Hop. He has matured into an incredibly talented singer and exceptional songwriter. J. Banks has been called upon to sing hooks and background vocals with top Bay Area Artists such as Mistah F.A.B., Clyde Carson of The Team, and Turf Talk, not to mention countless producers such as Deandre Griffin (Keyshia Cole, Deborah Cox, Pink) and Tyquan (E-40, Keak Da Sneak, Turf Talk). Tapping into his experiences as a bay area native and drawing inspiration from artists such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Usher, J. Banks has produced a sound of his own that tells a story ranging from life in the hood to the pains of heartbreak. While many challenge that R&B is inherently tender, J. Banks exemplifies the depth and variety of the genre. Is R&B dead? One track from J. Banks proves that he is the answer!