Jimmy Lea

Jim Lea
Lea appearing with Slade on AVRO's TopPop in 1973
Background information
Birth name	James Whild Lea
Born	(1949-06-14) 14 June 1949 (age 68) Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England
Genres	Rock
Occupation(s)	Musician singer-songwriter record producer
Instruments	Bass guitar keyboards violin guitar vocals
Years active	1966–present
Associated acts	Slade
Website	www.jimleamusic.com
Notable instruments
Gibson EB-3 John Birch custom made guitar

James Whild "Jim" Lea (born 14 June 1949) is an English musician, most notable for playing bass guitar, keyboards, violin, guitar, and singing backing vocals in Slade from their inception until 1992, and for co-writing most of their songs.

Lea was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. Influenced by French jazz-violinist Stéphane Grappelli, Lea's first musical love was the violin which he began playing aged 10. His parents owned The Grange pub in Bilbrook where he grew up. He attended Codsall Comprehensive School – now Codsall Community High School. He joined the Staffordshire Youth Orchestra in 1961, and gained first class honours in a London music-school practical exam, before moving on to piano, guitar and finally bass guitar. He first played guitar, and then bass, in the schoolboy group 'Nick and The Axemen'.

Lea aged 16 went for auditions for a local band, 'The 'N Betweens', of which drummer Don Powell, guitarist Dave Hill and vocalist Johnny Howells were already members. He was accepted and left school immediately. When Noddy Holder joined soon after, the foundations for Slade had been laid. Howells later left the band. In December 1966 December, the 'N' Betweens signed to EMI and their first single "You Better Run" was produced by Kim Fowley.

In 1969 the 'N' Betweens were signed by Fontana Records and their name was changed to Ambrose Slade. An album titled Beginnings was recorded. Beginnings. Chas Chandler, former member of the Animals and former manager/producer for Jimi Hendrix, spots and signs them. It was during 1969 that Lea wrote “How does it feel” at home on an old out of tune piano with half of the keys not working.

In 1970 Ambrose Slade adopted a skinhead image and changed their name to Slade. Following their first chart entry with "Get Down and Get With It" in 1970, Chandler encouraged the band to write their own material, and the song-writing partnership of Lea and Holder commenced. In most cases Lea wrote the melodies, and Holder concentrated on the lyrics. On the follow-up to "Get Down and Get With It, "Coz I Luv You," Lea played violin. Lea was the most trained musician in Slade.