Mario, Donell Jones & LeToya Contribute to New Boney James Release “Contact” In Stores March 29th

Boney James, who has four Gold albums, three Grammy® nominations, a Soul Train Award and an NAACP Award nomination to his credit, releases his most personal album to date, Contact, on March 29, 2011. His first album for Verve Records, Contact boasts high-profile vocal guest appearances from Grammy®- and Tony®-Award winner Heather Headley; platinum-selling singer and former Destiny’s Child member LeToya Luckett; and R&B superstars Mario, and Donnell Jones. His first single “Contact” is already No. 1 most added on the BDS Smooth Jazz, Mediabase Smooth AC, and Smoothjazz.com charts. The first Urban AC single “When I Had The Chance,” featuring LeToya Luckett, is going for adds next week.

Contact – completely produced, arranged and co-written by James – is driven by the signature soulful grooves the world has come to expect from him, but with an added intensity. “The title, in one sense, refers to me reaching across genres and creating music that I believe is relevant and fresh.”

The musician’s legion of fans have scooped up over 3 million copies of his twelve albums (with eight of them going to No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart). And though notable music critics consider him one of the most influential jazz artists of his generation and Billboard Magazine named him “The No. 3 Top Contemporary Jazz Artist of the Decade,” James says, “I am just a saxophone player whose music has several different influences. Jazz is only one of them.”

This incredibly accomplished artist – who broke into music in the mid-80s touring with acts such as The Isley Brothers, Morris Day (The Time), Randy Crawford and Teena Marie, and emerged as a solo force in 1992 with his breakthrough debut, Trust, has long been influenced by contemporary R&B.

James is currently in the midst of a whirlwind tour of concert and promotional appearances. In addition to his year-long tour, James performed the opening number on the recent NAACP Awards live broadcast on FOX along with Wayne Brady and Holly Robinson-Peete. James next travels to Atlanta to peform his single “When I Had The Chance” on The Mo’nique Show (airdate TBA) with LeToya Luckett. He returns to L.A. to perform March 22 on The George Lopez Show before criss-crossing the country for local TV and radio performances and appearances.

With Boney’s masterful new CD Contact, he refuses to accept any type of labeling. “I always try to make sure my records possess integrity. I make ‘Boney James’ music. I’m just trying to break down the barriers and make CONTACT.”

Boney Tour Dates for April 2011(more to be announced):

4/14 Pier Park Amphitheatre Panama City Beach, FL

4/30 Niswonger Performing Arts Center Van Wert, OH