The Roger James Four has been played on NTS shows including The Uline Catalog w/ Calvin LeCompte, with A Letter From Kathy first played on 1 August 2025.

Roger James ( born Roger Scarrott, in Avonside Hospital, Evesham, in the FAIR county of Worcestershire, 13/05/1944 - please see his website: rj4.co.uk where you’ll find loads of ‘stuff’ ) started playing guitar and writing songs in 1957 - after being bitten by the bug that spawned the ‘SKIFFLE’ craze, which then turned into ‘Rockabilly’, and ‘eventually’… Rock ‘n’ Roll. Roger’s VERY first professional/showbiz name was ‘Dave Randal’, a name given to him by a man he had met on the upper deck of a double-decker bus whilst travelling from Evesham to Cheltenham ( circa 1959/60 ). Later that year Roger got word of a touring Rock ‘n’ Roll show that would be staged at Worcester Ice Rink - he attended, passed the audition, and was signed to a contract joining the ‘Reg Calvert’ stable of touring bands, musicians, and solo entertainers… he was NOW on his way! Roger toured the length and Breadth of the country of ENGLAND, from The Calvert’s ( Reg, and his family ) ‘base’ … first in Southampton, and later, in Rugby, Warwickshire. In 1961manager Reg organized for roger and the band to travel to, and perform in Hamburg, Germany - at the ‘now’ famous ‘TOP TEN CLUB’. Roger was lucky enough to work at the same club as the ‘then’, yet to be, ‘DISCOVERED’ band, ‘The Beatles’ - also ‘Gerry and the Pacemakers’. By now, Roger, after ‘first’ becoming ‘Dave Randal’, then ‘Rod Ace and The Fireballs’, had turned into ‘Robby Hood and The Merry men’ ( complete, with ‘full regalia!’ ) Roger left the Reg Calvert ‘troup’ in late ‘62. He briefly joined a ‘Bristol - based’ band, then met The NOW ‘Royal Ruler’ - Tony Prince, who persuaded him to become a ‘disc jockey’. Roger did a ‘stint’ at the ‘Top Rank Ballroom’, was spotted by Garry Brown ( a Top Rank ‘bigwig’ ), and was whisked off to Preston, Lancashire, to take on the roll of DJ/singer & guitar man, in the resident band. Whilst working at the Top Rank in Preston, Roger formed ‘The Prestons’… they travelled to London ( overnight ) and, with ‘no sleep’, auditioned for the FAMOUS, and ‘very’ first, independent record producer - ‘Joe Meek’… recording four of Roger’s ‘original’ songs. Nothing became of ‘this’ encounter, and the band fizzled out. After the split with ‘The Prestons’, Roger, with the ‘kind’ help of Harry Stanley, formed ‘Roger James Four’. Harry, who was The INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED Magic dealer and Publisher, offered up his skills as manager. The ‘lads’ were delighted. Harry ‘then’. worked his UNIQUE form of MAGIC, and, ‘HEY PRESTO!’… a recording career was ‘suddenly’ on the horizon! Roger and the Band were lucky enough to land a contract with the ‘world renown’ recording company, EMI. Norrie Paramore stepped forward to produce the first single, and… ‘A Letter From Cathy’ was Released in 1965 - selling over 3,000 copies!… Also see: Roger James Four - better than here ( you tube ) which brings a GREAT video to a TREMENDOUS track by this ‘prolific’ Singer/Songwriter, ROGER JAMES - from the early 1960’s to present day. Roger is ‘still’ writing and performing his ‘original’ songs, and music, ( vocally & instrumentally ) world - wide… ENJOY!… Roger’s album, ‘Riding Free’, has ‘now’ been re-issued by Chapter One Records ( 2010 ) Re-mastered and marketed by ‘’John Barry 7’’ keyboard player and songwriter ‘of repute’, Les Reed… Les founded Chapter One Records in the mid 60’s and published many of Roger’s songs under the UMBRELLA ‘Donna Music’ ( Les’ ‘lovely’ daughter’s name )… time will ‘obviously’ tell, but… TALENT will ‘’surely’’ PREVAIL…