{{Short description|American bluegrass musician}} {{use mdy dates|date=July 2025}} '''James Calvin Reams'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=KENTUCKY RIVER |url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/900003377 |access-date=April 26, 2023 |website=ASCAP |archive-date=February 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206145055/https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/900003377 |url-status=live }}</ref> (born January 10, 1956)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rice |first=Wayne |title=January 2011 |url=http://www.waynerice.com/bgbios/jan.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724134650/http://www.waynerice.com/bgbios/jan.htm |archive-date=24 July 2011 |access-date=8 May 2012 |website=waynerice.com}}</ref>{{self-published source|date=July 2025}} is an American guitarist and member of the musical group James Reams & The Barnstormers. He has performed for over 20 years and is widely known as an "Ambassador of Bluegrass" for his dedication to bluegrass and oldtime music.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dewees |first=Gayle |title=Prospect Park Bluegrass Bash |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/boroughs/prospect-park-bluegrass-bash-article-1.493303 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402122719/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/boroughs/prospect-park-bluegrass-bash-article-1.493303 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |access-date=8 May 2012 |work=New York Dailey News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Pat |date=March 29, 2012 |title=As it turns out cosmically… |url=http://tolucantimes.info/section/theatre_review/as-it-turns-out-cosmically/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403071143/http://tolucantimes.info/section/theatre_review/as-it-turns-out-cosmically/ |archive-date=2012-04-03 |access-date=8 May 2012 |website=The Tolucan Times}}</ref>
==Biography== Originally from Kentucky and moved to Brooklyn, he continued to perform and record blue grass and old time music and created a festival in New York City, a one of a kind event that offers workshops and performances in bluegrass and old time music. During his music career, he has earned nicknames because of his efforts, Reams has been called the "Father of Brooklyn Bluegrass" and "Kentucky Songbird". Being from Kentucky, he was surrounded by music enthusiasts and musicians that have influenced his music.<ref>{{cite web|last=Seida|first=Linda|title=Allmusic.|website=AllMusic |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-reams-p442914/biography|accessdate=8 May 2012}}</ref> He currently resides in Litchfield Park, Arizona.<ref>{{cite web|last=Teplyske|first=Donald|title=James Reams: The next phase|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/blog/FervorCouleeBluegrass/entry.asp?xid=860|accessdate=8 May 2012|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112246/http://www.countrystandardtime.com/blog/FervorCouleeBluegrass/entry.asp?xid=860|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Bluegrass Oldtime Music Jamboree== In 1998, James Reams organized the '''Park Slope Bluegrass Oldtime Music Jamboree''', an annual festival in Brooklyn, New York, at the Brooklyn Society of Ethical Culture Meeting House.<ref>{{cite web|last=Aridas|first=Tina|title=Park Slope Old-Time / Bluegrass Jamboree|url=http://www.oldtimeherald.org/archive/back_issues/volume-6/6-7/parkslope_profile.html|accessdate=8 May 2012|archive-date=27 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127153352/http://oldtimeherald.org/archive/back_issues/volume-6/6-7/parkslope_profile.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Discography== * 1994: ''Kentucky Songbird'' (Leghorn Music) * 2000: ''The Blackest Crow'' (Mountain Redbird Music) * 2000: ''The Mysterious Redbirds'' (Mountain Redbird Music) * 2001: ''Barnstormin''' (Copper Creek Records) * 2002: ''James Reams, Walter Hensley & The Barons of Bluegrass'' (Copper Creek Records) * 2005: ''Troubled Times'' (Mountain Redbird Music) with the Barnstormers * 2006: ''Wild Card'' (Mountain Redbird Music) * 2011: ''One Foot In The Honky Tonk'' (Mountain Redbird Music) with the Barnstormers * 2016: ''Rhyme & Season'' (Mountain Redbird Music) * 2022: ''Like A Flowing River & Soundtrack Album'' (Mountain Redbird Music)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.ibiblio.org/hillwilliam/BGdiscography/?svalue=James+reams&stype=keyword&v=sresults&search=Search&page=0 illustrated James Reams Discography] * [http://www.wirz.de/music/paleyfrm.htm Discography Mysterious Redbirds (Tom Paley, James Reams, and Bill Christophersen)] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120629070102/http://www.jamesreams.com/index.html James Reams official website]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Reams, James}} Category:1956 births Category:American bluegrass guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:Bluegrass musicians from Kentucky Category:Musicians from Brooklyn Category:Guitarists from Arizona Category:Living people Category:People from Litchfield Park, Arizona Category:Guitarists from Kentucky Category:Guitarists from New York (state) Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:Country musicians from New York (state) Category:Country musicians from Kentucky Category:Country musicians from Arizona Category:20th-century American male musicians