James Baylis, the 10th of 14 siblings, was born in Harrow, Ontario, Canada, to Elmer and Clara Baylis. His African ancestors, who were Angolans, were brought to North America via the slave trade in 1710 and eventually settled in the Pleasant Valley area, near Lake Erie, where Uncle Tom's Cabin is located.
James' father, a skilled hunter and trapper, was also a talented baseball player who pitched and played second base in the Canadian Negro Baseball leagues. After marrying in 1941, he worked on the family farm and later at the Ford Motor Company foundry in Windsor, Ontario, where he poured engine blocks for the 351 and 352 models.
James' mother, Clara, was a powerful gospel singer who performed in churches in Detroit, including some that gave birth to the Motown sound. James and his siblings sang in churches under their mother's direction, and a few of his siblings even sang on major labels.
However, James had a different path in mind. He was reared by his grandmother, who lived in a flowerbed way and told him untold African North American history as bedtime stories. James attended the Colchester South Segregated School System until 1966, when the Canadian parliament abolished segregation, allowing him to attend public school.
James' first experience with racism was when he auditioned for a drama class and was told that he couldn't play the role of Oliver because he wasn't black. His grandmother advised him that times were changing slowly, but that he should hold on to his dreams.
James went on to become a cowboy in High River, Alberta, Canada, and later worked with at-risk kids and as a commercial wildcrafter and wilderness outfitter. He also utilized his grandmother's teachings in practical herbalism.
In 1997, James was offered a role in a film by Ron Allen, a member of the Dead Poets, and he went on to work on several projects, including a film with Chris Haddock. James' greatest asset is his voice, which has improved and empowered his verbal storytelling over time.
