Tag Archives: james kahn

James Kahn: Making History Writing History

By: Maria Smith

James Kahn’s newest album Matamoros is not a stand alone piece of work.   Rather, It is a companion piece that accompanies his newest book, Matamoros: Civil War on the Rio Grande.  He has worked on it on and off for almost twenty years and only now feels like it is ready to share.

Wanting to get a better understanding of his story’s characters, Kahn wrote them songs,  based on that characters story.  Each song provides additional tidbits about the character’s life.  The songs themselves are stand-alone classics, providing a truly unique experience for the reader of his book, as well as fans of his music.

Kahn was challenged by the historical aspect of the book which is very different than the sci-fi and medical thrillers he normally writes.  In fact it was so different that the majority of the time he spent on Matamoros was used researching.  He poured hours upon hours into finding the very best way to share this story, and in the end found an exceptional way to do it.

Recently, KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste caught up with Kahn via Skype.  They chat about the possibility of film or stage adaptations, favorite characters, and more.

Listen to the interview here:

Download the interview here: Interview with James Kahn 2/12/2020

James Kahn: Leading a life full of Music and Adventure

James KahnJames Kahn has found the meaning of life, well maybe not but he sings about it in his newest album. The singer-songwriter has lived a life full of nothing but adventure. Not only is his newest album, The Meaning of Life a KC Cafe Radio favorite but he has also gotten to meet people and do things that most of us can only dream about. An ER doctor who while playing an extra on E.T. befriended Steven Spielberg and ended up writing the novelizations to several of his films. He then went on to write for George Lucas for the novelization of Return of the Jedi.

Kahn always knew he wanted to write. As a child, he rewrote the endings to his favorite comic books and while he went on to become an ER doctor that love for writing never left him. After he wrote all of those novelizations he figured he could try his hand at writing for television. He got on as a junior writer for the show ER, and then went on to not only write but also produce Star Trek Voyager among other things. Kahn’s adventure of course didn’t stop there. He then decided that he wanted to create music, and we are so glad that he did!

Recently, KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste talked with Kahn via Skype. They chat about his love of comics, singing to his kids and what’s coming next.

Listen to the interview here:

Download the interview here: Interview with James Kahn 9/19/2019

Music video for Oh The Things That I’ve Seen:

Click Here to visit James’s YouTube channel

Click Here to visit James’s Facebook page