James Baley

{{Short description|Canadian singer and dancer}}

{{about||the American politician, lawyer and judge|James M. Baley Jr.}}

James Baley is a Canadian singer and dancer from Toronto, Ontario, whose debut album A Story was released in 2021.Robert Rowat, [https://www.cbc.ca/music/from-brimstone-to-ballroom-musician-james-baley-prevails-to-tell-a-powerful-story-1.6353485 "From brimstone to ballroom, musician James Baley prevails to tell a powerful story"]. CBC Music, March 2, 2022.

A longtime figure in Toronto's ballroom culture scene,[https://www.cbc.ca/music/cots-meditation-on-loneliness-and-4-more-songs-you-need-to-hear-this-week-1.6143868 "Cots' meditation on loneliness, and 4 more songs you need to hear this week"]. CBC Music, August 18, 2021. Baley first became known as a musician when he contributed vocals to Azari's 2018 single "Gotasoul",Carrie Battan, [https://www.newyorker.com/recommends/listen/azari-gotasoul-a-song-that-unites-the-church-and-the-club "Azari's 'Gotasoul,' a Song That Unites the Church and the Club"]. The New Yorker, September 19, 2018. which was a Juno Award nominee for Dance Recording of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2019.[https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/news/shawn-mendes-and-the-weeknd-lead-the-2019-juno-nominations-1.4992669 "Shawn Mendes and the Weeknd lead the 2019 Juno nominations"]. CBC Music, January 29, 2019, In 2020 he was a featured vocalist on "Champagne", a single from July Talk's Juno-winning album Pray for It,Steve Horowitz, [https://www.popmatters.com/july-talk-pray-for-it-2646840333.html "July Talk Transform on 'Pray for It'"]. Pop Matters, July 31, 2020. and has also been a guest vocalist with U.S. Girls, Zaki Ibrahim and Badge Époque Ensemble.Liisa Ladouceur, [https://www.socanmagazine.ca/features/james-baley-fuses-gospel-vocals-with-house-music/ "James Baley fuses Gospel vocals with house music"]. Words and Music, October 7, 2021.

He released A Story in 2021,Richard Trapunski, [https://nowtoronto.com/music/toronto-year-in-music-2021 "Toronto's best music 2021: albums, concerts and so many songs to stream"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702223804/https://nowtoronto.com/music/toronto-year-in-music-2021 |date=2022-07-02 }}. Now, December 9, 2021. and promoted the album with an "immersive" live show at Toronto's Great Hall on October 22, which blended live music, ballroom performance and multimedia elements.[https://nowtoronto.com/culture/the-best-things-to-do-in-toronto-this-weekend-october-22-24 "The best things to do in Toronto this weekend: October 22-24"]. Now, October 21, 2021.

In 2022, Baley and filmmaker Kyisha Williams created a performance video for the ballroom competition series CBX: Canadian Ballroom Extravaganza.S. Bear Bergman, [https://xtramagazine.com/culture/ocean-vuong-the-canadian-ballroom-extravaganza-220780 "Ocean Vuong, the 'Canadian Ballroom Extravaganza' and lots of trans feelings"]. Xtra!, March 31, 2022.

He is out as gay.