The Vagabonds were originally formed in 1960. Later, James, already a successful soloartist in Jamaica, teamed up with them and in April 1964, they relocated to the UK. "Ska Time" (Decca Records) was recorded within two weeks of their arrival, and is one of the first examples of Jamaican ska music to be recorded in the UK. In 1965 they made some more gigs and recordings in Hungary. Which was organised as part of a "cultural exchange" programme. The Vagabonds being one of the few "western" bands ever to play in the former-communist state. Before signing with Pye Records and releasing their best known studioalbum, The New Religion in 1966. Also in 1965, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds met The Who and supported them at the Marquee ClubinLondon. They were well received and became the resident band there, on Tuesday nights, for about a year.[citation needed]
The band also played as back up for The Who, and Sonny & Cher, Rod Stewart (who was also on Pye Records at the time), and the Rolling Stones. The band often used the Abbey Road recording studios. Once being there at the same time as the Beatles were recording.
Their live performance was captured in the album, Live at the Marquee, also featuring the Alan Bown Set. Jimmy James and the Vagabonds were labelmates and rivals of Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.
In the 1970s the band had hit singles in the UK Singles Chart with " I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me" and "Now Is The Time".
^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. p. 279. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
