James (Nagar Baul)

James
James performing in San Francisco Bay Area, USA (Sep 2013)
Background information
Birth name	Faruq Mahfuz Anam
Also known as	Nagar Baul, Guru, James
Born	October 2, 1964
Origin	Chittagong, Bangladesh
Genres	Psychedelic rock, rock, hard rock
Occupations	Singer, actor
Instruments	Guitar, bass, vocals, khamok
Years active	1980-present
Labels	Soundteck, Shangeeta, Sony BMG
Associated acts	Feelings, Nagar Baul, Metro Band

Faruq Mahfuz Anam (Bengali: ফারুক মাহফুজ আনাম), known by his stage name James, is a Bangladeshi singer, guitarist, and composer. He is currently the lead guitarist and vocal of the band Nagar Baul (formerly known as Feelings). He has also played back in few songs in Bollywood movies. He was often referred to by the honorific nickname "Guru". ^{[citation needed]}

Early life

James was born in Naogaon and raised in Chittagong. His father was a government employee who later promoted to the Chairman of Chittagong Education Board. From the teenage, James started music which was not liked by his family. He played guitar with his friends when he was in class seven in 1977. ^[1] After a huge dispute with his family, James left his house when he was in class eight. He started living in a dormitory named Aziz Boarding in Chaittagong. This is the place from where his musical career started flourishing. Here he met few musicians of a band named "Feelings" and started his musical career as a vocal and lead guitarist of "Feelings" band.

Musical career

Bangladesh

James sings psychedelic rock, rock and blues music. Many lyricists have written songs for James including Poet Shamsur Rahman, Lucky Akhand, Prince Mahmud, Marjuk Rasel, Shibli and Deholovi. In his early days, he was inspired by artists like Jim Morrison, Mark Knofler and Eric Clapton. James released his debut album, "Station Road", with his band "Feelings" in 1987. He released his first solo album named "Annonna" in 1988. The albums he released later are "Jail theke Bolchi" in 1990, "Nogor Baul" in 1996, "Leis Fita Leis" in 1998 and "Collection of Feelings" in 1999 with his band Feelings. He also worked in lots of solo albums. He released "Anonna" in 1988, "Palabe Kothai" in 1995, "Dukkhini Dukkho Korona" in 1997, "Thik Achhe Bondhu" in 1999, "Ami Tomader E Lok" in 2003, "Jonota Express" in 2005, "Toofan" in 2006 and "Kal Jomuna" in 2009. Later James renamed "Feelings" into a new name "Nogor Baul" with some former members. Their next album named "Dushtu Cheler Dol" was released in 2001.

Bollywood

As James was working in Bengali Band Music, his songs had been widely received by the people of Bangladesh and West Bengal since 1990's. James met "Pritom", a Bangali music director in Bollywood in 2004. In 2005, James played back in the movie named "Gangster". The name of the song was "Bheegi Bheegi" and it was a blockbuster hit. The song remained at the top of Bollywood Hit List for more than a month.^[2] Then he sang another song named "Chal Chalein" in another movie named "Woh Lamhe" in 2006. He again playbacked two songs titled "Rishtey" and "Alvida (Reprise)" in the movie named "Life in a Metro".

In 2013 James sang a Hindi song titled "Bebasi" for a movie named "Warning 3D" which already been released in YouTube.

Modeling and Television appearance

James first appeared in a television commercial of Pepsi in early 2000's. This commercial was broadcast both in West Bengal and Bangladesh. Later in 2011, James worked again in a Bangladeshi television commercial of an energy drink "Black Horse". James appeared in some parts of the Bollywood movie "Life in A Metro" where he played role as a member of street band.

Personal life

James was first married to Rothi. In 2002, he ended his first marriage and married Benazir Sazzad,^[3] whom he reportedly met during a concert around the year 1999. James has three children: daughters Jannat and Jahaan, and son Danesh.

Red Dot Entertainment

James, along with Gazi Ahmed Shuvro, co-owns a production house "Red Dot Entertainment". This house made a video commercial named "Beautiful Bangladesh" for "ICC World Cup Cricket 2011" . Red Dot Entertainment produced numerous reality shows like De Rockstar 2, Lux Channel-i Superstar', Ke hote chay kotipoti and others. Red Dot also makes TVCs.

Discography

James at reunion concert in SUST campus, 2012

Studio albums

• Station Road (1987, under the name 'Feelings')
• Jail Theke Bolchhi (1990, 'Feelings')
• Nogor Baul (1996, 'Feelings')
• Lais Fita Lais (1998, 'Feelings')
• Dushtu Chheler Dol (2001)
• Collection of Feelings (1999) (compilation album)

Songs/albums as a solo artist

• Anonna (1988)
• Palabe Kothai (1995)
• Dukkhini Dukkho Korona (1997)
• Thik Achhe Bondhu (1999)
• Ami Tomader E Lok (2003)
• Jonota Express (2005)
• Toofan (2007)
• Kal Jomuna (2008)
• Bheegi Bheegi (2005, 'Gangster')
• Chal Chalein (2006, 'Woh Lamhe')
• Rishtey, Alvida (Reprise) (2007, 'Life in a... Metro')
• "Bebasi" (Warning 3D) '(2013)

References