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James Mackie (born 6/1/60) is a British musician and composer.

James was born in Bolton, Lancashire, and moved to Lancaster, in 1969 with his parents when he was nine. During his years as a pupil at Lancaster Royal Grammar School he developed a talent for music, playing the piano, keyboards and saxophone.

Throughout his teens he played with a number of Lancaster-based bands then got a break when he and his friend, Adam Williams, auditioned for the 2-Tone label’s ska band, The Selecter, in 1980. The band was led by singer Pauline Black and guitarist Neol Davies and was based in Coventry, the centre of the post-punk ska revival, a revival which encompassed bands such as The Specials, The Beat and, in London, Madness. The Selecter had released its debut album, Too Much Pressure in 1980 via 2 Tone and Chrysalis Records to critical acclaim and popular success.

When band tensions pushed Charley Anderson and Desmond Brown to leave The Selecter, James Mackie and Adam Williams replaced them. Mackie was on Hammond Organ, Williams was on bass.

James made his live debut with the band in November 1981 at Birmingham Polytechnic. The gig was broadcast live on BBC Radio 1 In Concert. James played on and contributed to the band’s follow-up album Celebrate the Bullet released in 1981. As a band member he then toured Europe and Britain, special-guesting with other bands such as Talking Heads, Ian Dury and the Blockheads and many more. He appeared with The Selecter on John Peel sessions, The Old Grey Whistle Test and many one-off stadium gigs, including the NEC with UB40.

When The Selecter broke up James got another break – with the hugely successful band, Madness. Mike Barson wanted a break from touring so James was asked to take his place as keyboard player with the chart-topping band. James made his live debut with Madness on the US hit television show Saturday Night Live playing to an audience of millions across the USA and the world. During this time he also played sessions with The Eurythmics and other bands in and around London.

Following his stint with Madness James also composed for television, radio and theatre while concurrently developing skills and qualifications in interior design and restoration. He was taught gilding and specialist painting in London by a craftsman who had done restoration work at Buckingham Palace and for Asprey. James became a member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen. In 1988 James and his actress wife, Christine Mackie, (French & Saunders The Grand, Hollyoaks, Holby City, Two Pints of Larger and a Packet of Crisps, moved with their children back to Lancaster where he became artistic director and composer for LUDUS dance company and later opened his interior design firm, Mackies of Lancaster.

In 2005 he formed, with John Elles, the instrumental Mod-Jazz duo Get Carter, James played Hammond organ while John, who has a strong background in punk and rock bands, played drums. In 2007 the duo joined forces with singers Amy Rhiannon Worth and Helen Longworth, to form Heroes of She.

The group formed its independent record label, Northern Music with Jonathan Denby as Managing Director in 2007. Heroes of She won Best in the North at the BT Battle of the Bands 2008 competition and played in the final at the Telecom Tower London. Kevin Roberts, Chief Executive Officer Worldwide for advertising giant Saatchi & Saatchi, recommended the band’s debut album 'Never Going Home' on his blog, KR Connect. Tom Robinson debuted Heroes of She single "Don’t Love Me" on his BBC Radio 6 programme in October 2008.

References:

Celebrate the Bullet, album notes, George Marshall. 2001.

Interviews with James Mackie by Judith Coyle, January – April 2006.

‘From Pop Charts to Paint Charts: James Mackie’ by Judith Coyle and Andy Hockridge, Period Living, August 2006. ‘From Pop Charts to Paint Charts: James Mackie’ by Judith Coyle, Business Matters, March 2006.

External links:

Old grey Whistle Test Clip ]