Hilary James

“One of the most stirring female voices in contemporary British folk music”

Craig Harris, All Music Guide

Musician, author and artist, Hilary James has achieved one of those rare things, a successful career in music spanning over thirty years. She was one of the first musicians to set up her own label back in 1979, which has since released a total of twenty five albums, including five of her own highly acclaimed solo CDs and a catalogue of best selling CDs, music books and videos by long-time partner, mandolin virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist, Simon Mayor.

Possessed of "one of Britain’s finest voices" (BBC Radio 4) she is also a fine songwriter and instrumentalist. Self-taught on double bass and guitar, she rarely appears these days without her trademark bass mandolin. She also nurtures a keen interest in music for children and presented music education programmes for BBC Schools Radio for six years. She was one of the last presenters of the iconic BBC Children’s Television programme Play School and together with Simon Mayor recorded six CDs for children. She has illustrated and co-written two picture books for Top That! Publishing PLC and The Musical Mystery Tour children's song book, which was originally published by Faber Music.

Her fifth solo CD, English Sketches, was one of the Sunday Times Best Ten World Music Albums of 2011. A new music CD and a third children's book 'Hum, hum, hum' are scheduled for publication in Autumn 2015