James "Plookie" Werts Bass guitar / lead and backing vocals Producer / Arranger / Lyricist James is a well known bass guitarist/vocalist throughout the Los Angeles and southern california area as a proven musician. A great performer and a prolific songwriter, James bass guitar style's has often been compared to that of the great bass guitarist Randy Hope-Taylor of Incognito, and the funk jazz style of Marcus Miller. James diverse range in styles includes R&B, Reggae, Jazz, Pop, Gospel, Latin, Funk, African, Hip Hop and Dance. Born and raised in Detroit Michigan, James started out playing the drums with several Detroit neighborhood bands from R&B to Gospel, then moving onto the bass guitar at an early age James can remember being taught how to play the bass guitar from his 12 year old friend Jesse Smith. James first bass guitar gig was with the "Sons of Fire", a garage band that never got out of the garage. From Detroit, James moved down to the Cleveland Ohio area where he began playing with the bands "Bustin' Loose" a 6pc band playing covers of Cameo, Bar-Kays, Parliment-Funkadelics, Slave..etc,. "Fayze Band" a 6pc band playing covers and originals. "The Score" a 5pc top 40 pop band playing rock n roll to soul r&b. "By Design" James own original act, playing all of James written arrangement's. James moved to Los Angeles california in 1990 playing with several hot original act like: James main act he performed with over 6 years in the LA area was the funky jazz band "The Kraze". James and the Kraze were a hot ticket in the LA area. With many members moving in and out of the band such as, guitarist Jorge Evans now with Bobby Caldwell, Sax man Tracy Wannamae now with Macy Gray, Frankie Zendejas formally with Luis Miguel, Anastacia...yes, that Anastacia, Elisa Fiorillo who had a cd released back in 1990 "I AM" produced by Prince. And many other musicians not mentioned. The Kraze was being sought by Warner Bros records (with Anastacia) to do a funky jazzy cd in the vain of Jamiroquai and Incognito, but when Anastacia moved to Epic, all talks had stopped. Caravana a latin african RnB band with incredible musicians from percussionist Ron Powell who performs with Kenny G, Madonna Kenny Hudson who perfomrs with Stevie Wonder, WAR. "Stevie Bensusan" a great songwriter and performer, who has written songs for the Sony / Epic recording artist "Anastacia". "Buck Johnson" A pop music vocalist / pianist who now performs with major recording artist Joe Walsh (rock n roll). "Ali Handal" A funky rock n roll trio, James performed on 8 of Ali's Hanal's cd "Dirty Little Secrets" which went on to become the cd of the year in 2001 in the Independent record catagory. In December of 2003 James moved to Tallinn Estonia where he can be seen in and around Tallinn and other parts of Estonia with his 8pc high energy band "Lament" and 4pc "Toping" (a smaller act of Lament), performing R&B Funk Reggae Pop Latin RnR. James and Lament are writting music as well as lyrics for their first cd. James is also writing lyrics and music for a number of up and coming Estonian artists. James music travel log looks like this: 1996 he and the Kraze toured Finland's two biggest cities, Helsinki and Turku for a month stint. 1997 James and the Kraze played for 3 month's in Hong Kong, and during the China / Great Britain "Handover".and many places in the Caribbean and the US. 2003 performed with Lament in Egypt Sharm El Sheikh city. James studio log: Nona Gaye (daughter of the late great Marvin Gaye) "Love For The Future" Third Stone/Atlantic Records 1992 The Good Girls "All For Your Love" Atlantic Records 1990 Delano Motown 1993 Ali Handal "Dirty Little Secrets" Dessert First Records 1999 Dolphins (movie soundtrack) A Macgillivray/Freeman film Pangaea Records 2000 Dave Anderson "This Is My Day Job" Pookielissy Productions 2001 Coral Reef (movie soundtrack) A Macgillivray/Freeman film Pangaea Recods 2003 Dave Benton Stars and friends "Humanity through Harmony" "If I Can Find The Words" written and sung by James 2003 James performances with other acts includes jazz standards to soul to hip hop to r&b to latin music. And in the Tallinn area you can see and hear James singing reggae at various clubs. Experience the energy and fun provided by a proven professional musician Experience James! James gear: 5 string Bossa bass guitar 5 string Spector bass guitar Eden 600 watt "Highwayman" amplifier Eden 2x10 (ported) bass cabinet