James Matthews

James “Ironhead” Matthews was a US funk and jazz pianist. Born in Gloster, Mississippi he later moved to St. Louis, Missouri then Greenville, Mississippi. James studied at Chicago’s Cosmopolitan School of Music after high school.

After college he moved to San Francisco, California where he release his first of two singles 'Crossing the Baha'. His last single followed shortly after 'Ironstein' under the name James Mathews Quartet. He returned to St. Louis where he worked as a touring session musician for the likes of B.B. King and Eddie Fisher. Holland-Dozier-Holland offered him a recording contract but he was pursuing his spiritual path. Ultimately he and his church turned down the recording deal.