bio

Here is a wonderful article by a local writer David Morrison titled :

James McRae, Marching to the Beat of His Own Drum.                                                                                      

I've been involved in a professional music context for too long to count! 30 years or more if you want to include what was probably my first gig with a friends uncle at a legion when i was about 16 years 'young'.. This past year (2010) I've been blessed to be able to play with a very diverse group of musicians/performers: Nico Rhodes, Marisha Devoin, Doug Dodd, Joelle Rabu, Darcy Phillips,Tony Wilson, Scott White, Sara Jeanne Hosie, Miles Black,  Monik Nordine, Joanna Finch, Sean Mooney, Aaron Cadwaladr , Nathan Tinkham, and many other musicians deserving of wider recognition - James Darling, Cam Wigmore, Kyle Shepard, Brad Shipley, Marty Hilchey as well as the fine musicians involved in a project called "The Big Bossa". Drums are my primary instrument, however I've ventured into doing gigs the past few years on piano. Piano has mostly been a vehicle to write songs and have fun noodling on... In the early part of 2009 I played drums for the Western Edge Theatre company in a show called The Angry Inch. I was also given the opportunity to perform A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline at the Chemainus Theatre in early 2010 with a host of great musicians and actor/actresses and theatre people.. I am presently involved in doing a fall tour of this same production in the Vancouver area and B.C. interior fall 2010.. This is being co-produced by the Chemainus and The Arts Club Theatre.. Also on another fun note, Marisha Devoin has put together a 9 piece funk band called 'The Mo' which I'm presently a part of...

I really enjoy writing music.  Some of the songs I've written in the past, along with ones previously released on cd's and etc. can be heard by visiting the 'song' page..

I  teach drums at Long and McQuade and very sporadically at our house here in Nanaimo.. I derive a great deal of pleasure and inspiration thru sharing with others which is how I see teaching. I would like to mention my mentor from the past - Al Wiertz - who was a great inspiration to me on a number of levels musically and towards life in general..

The many students I've been involved with over the past 8 years have been a blessing and one more example of life as a 'precious gift'.. Thanks to these same students I've been blessed to spend time with in a sharing and rewarding environment.

James

photo credit : Marisha Devoin