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James Chance
American musician (1953–2024) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people named James Chance, see James Chance (disambiguation).
James Chance, also known as James White (born James Siegfried, April 20, 1953 – June 18, 2024), was an American saxophonist, keyboard player, and singer.
Quick Facts Background information, Birth name ...
James Chance | |
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![]() Chance at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival | |
Background information | |
Birth name | James Siegfried |
Also known as | James White |
Born | (1953-04-20)April 20, 1953 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Died | June 18, 2024(2024-06-18) (aged 71) New York City, U.S. |
Genres | No wave, avant-funk, punk jazz, dance-punk |
Occupations | Musician, singer, songwriter |
Instruments | Alto saxophone, keyboards, vocals |
Years active | 1976–2019 |
Labels | ZE, ROIR |
Formerly of | Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, James Chance and the Contortions, James White and the Blacks |
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A key figure in no wave, Chance played a combination of improvisational jazz-like music and punk in the New York music scene from the late 1970s on, in such bands as Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, James Chance and the Contortions, James White and the Blacks (as he appeared in the film Downtown 81), The Flaming Demonics, James Chance & the Sardonic Symphonics, James Chance and Terminal City, and James Chance and Les Contortions.[1]