James Barnes — known to audiences throughout the region as JB — carries the blues in his blood. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in New Jersey after his family moved east in 1965, he grew up steeped in the sound and spirit of the music. On his father’s side, JB traces his lineage back to Mississippi, the wellspring from which so much of this tradition flows. Those “Mississippi Roots” became more than just family history; they formed the bedrock of his artistic calling.
JB didn’t come to the blues casually. He studied the greats —those who laid the path before him, those who continue to shape the form today. That study became devotion, and in 2016, the New Jersey Blues Hall of Fame recognized that devotion, honoring him as a “Great Blues Artist.” His first recording, JB’s Favorite Things (2023), established him as an independent artist with something genuine to say. His long-running band, BBD Rhythm & Blues, which he founded in 2012, has been carrying that message across clubs, festivals, and concert halls throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware for more than a decade.
JB’s mission is plain spoken yet profound: to honor the artists who came before him while ensuring the blues remains vibrant in the present. His latest project makes that mission personal. My Mississippi Roots, was released in the fall of 2025, and is more than a record — it is a testimony. The title track tells the story of JB’s father, Jerry Lee Barnes Sr., a man of quiet determination who journeyed from the deep South to the industrial North in search of work and a better life for his family. “His Mississippi Roots,” JB says, “are my Mississippi Roots.”
Produced by guitarist, songwriter, and longtime friend Anthony Krizan, My Mississippi Roots combines JB’s storytelling with contributions from a host of musicians —including his son, Jarred “Arktkt” Barnes — whose playing brings fresh fire to the tradition. The record traverses the landscape of the blues and beyond: original compositions, heartfelt tributes, and reimagined classics all rendered with conviction.
For more info on James and his tour dates:
https://www.jbkeepingthebluesalive.com
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