Playing the Changes - by Colin James (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A poignant, humourous and heartfelt coming-of-age memoir from one of Canada's most beloved musicians.

From the prairies of Saskatchewan to sharing the stage with some of the most important musicians of all time, Colin James is one of Canada's greatest talents.

In Playing the Changes, Colin looks back at his early years, as he emerges as a full-formed musical talent in his teens. Growing up in Saskatchewan, the son of social worker parents, Colin was always surrounded by music--from the records played at home, to the folk clubs in Regina and the Quaker gatherings his family attends throughout the province. At a very young age, he picked up his older brother's guitar and taught himself to play along to some of the vintage blues records he adored so much. He ultimately mastered the mandolin and penny whistle as well; before long he was sitting in with folk bands whose members were much older than him.

Readers also will follow young Colin as he tries to navigate and understand the world around him. Along the way, we meet Colin the hypochondriac, who is convinced that any cold he has may be fatal; Colin the romantic, who wears his heart on his sleeve; and Colin the compulsive cleaner, whose efforts to keep a tidy house are an attempt to prevent the impending separation and divorce of his parents.

Throughout his teenage years, Colin would perform in venues throughout Saskatchewan and Winnipeg where he was under the legal age to enter, let alone perform. All of that road work would lead to the pivotal moment of his life: at the age of eighteen, with a day's notice, Colin is asked to put together a band and open for legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan in Saskatoon. That performance would go on to lead to a remarkable friendship between the two musicians.

Culminating just before the release of Colin's debut album in 1988, Playing the Changes is a celebration of music and the joy of playing it, and of one of the most remarkable childhoods in Canadian music history.

About the Author

Colin James OBC is one of Canada's most beloved musicians. With twenty-one studio albums, eight Juno Awards, thirty-one Maple Blues Awards and multi-platinum sales, he continues to gain legions of fans around the world with each new record release and his sold-out tours. He's attained seven gold-certified albums during his career, including four platinum albums and two double platinum albums.

Over the years Colin has worked with some of music's most revered artists, including Bonnie Raitt, Albert Collins, Pops Staples, Robert Cray, Albert King, Keith Richards and Buddy Guy, to name but a few.

In 2013, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and in 2024 was appointed to the Order of British Columbia for his contribution to shaping Canadian music.

Colin James lives in Vancouver, BC.