The seeds of Hamburger James were sown in the summer of 2005. The band members piled into Memphis Blue, Andy's custom '63 Ford Galaxie, and hit the road to Memphis Tennessee. They stayed in the apartment where Elvis lived as a teenager, and walked in the footsteps of the rockabilly gods. Every Elvis site that they could find was scoured, absorbed, and devoured- starting at the Gridiron restaraunt where the boys gorged themselves on The King's favorite Palm Beach Burgers. Amongst the plethora of E madness- including seeing The Dempsey's on Beale St, live performances by Sonny Burgess, Jason D Williams, and Billy Lee Riley at an outdoor music festival, and a record eight hours spent at Graceland- the boy's reached an epiphany. While at the spiritual mecca of Sun Studio- standing on the same floor, hearing their own voices absorbed by the same acoustic tiles, looking at THE microphone used to make the very first recordings of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and countless others- the boys tilted their heads back, closed their eyes, and heard the message. "YOU WILL START A BAND TOGETHER. YOU WILL RECORD HERE. IT IS WHAT IS MEANT TO BE." And who were they to argue.
After much talk, Will finally forced their hand when he booked rockabilly legend Janis Martin to play in Richmond. Janis needed a band to back her. Hamburger James needed a swift kick in the ass to get the ball rolling. And here we are. Hamburger James- born in Memphis, raised in Virginia.
At the end of 2009, the band realized the dream of recording at Sun Studio. Their second full length release "Watch That Cadillac Burn" was laid down on that hallowed ground, and really showcases the sound that has broadened it's reach, while still holding true to the American roots music where it all began.
Janis Martin "The Female Elvis" with Hamburger James
