Ginger St. James
Getting her start in burlesque nearly 10 years ago, she first appeared on the Toronto scene as a member of Les Coquettes as a sultry singer. Her affection for good old rock and roll and the lure of footlights led her to Broadway songs. Les Coquettes, one of the first burlesque troupes in Canada to revive the old vaudeville tradition, led her to form her own group in her hometown, the Steeltown Sirens . St. James also toured the variety circuit with famed Canadian mentalist Mysterion the Mind Reader, as well as part of Canadain comedienne Shelley Marshall's famous "Full Bawdy Comedy Show"
Along the way, she worked as an artists’ model, producer, promoter, and also took the femme fatale role in Lucky 7, an indie film feature that took home Audience Choice at the Hamilton International Film Festival. In 2009, St. James began a full-time carreer focused on music and hasn't stopped since.
Backed by her powerful band, it was her voice, sultry and surprisingly strong, that took her to her present level as one of Ontario’s most exciting new artists. The first folk to take notice were the editors of View Magazine, Hamilton’s guide to what matters in Steeltown — in 2008 she was picked Best Female Artist, and the honour was repeated the last 4 years (along, it must be added, with a citation as “Sexiest Hamiltonian” 2009). In 2010, St. James recorded 2 songs specifically for the HBO Television series "Call Me Fitz" and also shared a duet with crooner Matt Dusk for the same program. The series has aired internationally.
Ginger St. James has now well and truly broken out of her role as a Hamilton phenomenon; the rest of us are discovering her. The release of the aptly titled 2010 release Spank, Sparkle and Growl — launched with much enthusiastic support at key clubs in Toronto as well as in her hometown, was awarded "Alt Country Recording of the Year" and nomineed for "Female vocalist of the year" as well as "Female artist of the Year" at the 2010 Ha,ilton Music Awards.
In short, Ginger St. James has arrived. This tiny firecracker of a woman has evolved into an award winning singer / songwriter and an entertainer who demands that her audience laughs and dances their asses off. Blues, Country and Rock n' Roll are her primary weapons, though it's her sultry, expressive voice that steals the show.
- R. Flohill/S.French/M.Hook