Fontaine James is not from a musical family per se but his Dad sang a lot of Johnny Cash around the house and his Mom would hum along to Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 while passing hors d’oeuvres at their soirees. It wasn’t long before Fontaine was standing in front of a mirror using a tennis racquet as a guitar.

Also, He went to Catholic school where the nuns made him sing the soprano solos because he could hit the high notes. They thought that was a hoot.

Fontaine’s radar is always up for a quirky turn of phrase. He will eavesdrop at a confessional for good material. One should never be be surprised to find that Fontaine has woven a phrase you've uttered  into a story and set it to music in praise of joie de vivre.

Photo: Angela Bingham, Fontaine James, Emerson Young, Frank Longino and the rest of The Odd Fellows Hall live at The Way Staion, Brooklyn, NY.