James is the newest member and House Percussionist in NBC’s The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien’s Band.

 

 

James "THE WORM" Wormworth’s BIO

James "The Worm" Wormworth's biography is so diverse it's almost impossible to write. He gained notoriety by being seen in households across the world as the "Barefoot Drummer" in the House Band for NBC's, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" which eventually lead to his current position as the newest member of The Tonight Show Band (both as percussionist full-time and then behind the drumset on choice occasions).

He is known for adapting to any of a wide variety of musical situations, from Rocking Households around the world on The Tonight Show, to rocking the house in Stadium Shows, to gently playing Jazz in a quiet New York City or Los Angeles nightclubs, to showing dramatic diversity in exciting Theatrical Film scores, all the way to listening to the subtle nuances of a song-writer while playing with 87-year-old Country Legend Charlie Louvin(who was quoted as saying "He's the best Drummer I've ever played with!").

James has toured in over 50 countries, all of the major International Music Festivals, where he's played with legendary artists/musicians such as Chuck Berry,  Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan),  Double-drums with Levon Helm, Wynton Marsalis,  Cyndi Lauper,  Keith Richards,  Rufus Wainwright,  Bo Diddley,  Trisha Yearwood,  Michael McDonald,  Isaac Hayes,  BB King,  Kevin & Michael Bacon (The Bacon Brothers),  John Sebastian(Lovin' Spoonful),  Slo Leak,  Johnnie Copeland,  Son Seals,  The Vivino Brothers,  Johnnie Johnson,  Al Kooper,  Hubert Sumlin,  Lew Soloff...and the list goes on to read like a Grammy-Oscar-Emmy Alumni Dinner!

James has also performed onstage with Saturday Night Live Cast Members and participated in the prestigious Comedy Love Call with Tina Fey,  Nelly McKay,  Adam Sandler,  Jon Stewart,  Richie Sambora,  Horatio Sans,  Maya Rudolf,  Rachel Dratch,  Fred Armisen & Triumph the Insult Comic Dog among many others.

He has also twice been behind the drum kit for The Mark Twain Awards at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC playing for Steve Martin,  Martin Short,  Tom Hanks,  Queen Latifah,  Diane Keaton,  Randy Newman,  Larry David,  Claire Danes,  Lily Tomlin,  Lorne Michaels, Neil Simon,  Robert Redford,  Jason Alexander and Christina Applegate...among others.

James has even acted both on the Theater stage performing in dramatic roles, as well as in numerous Television Comedy bits with Conan O'Brien, as well as skits with the likes of Jim Carrey, Nathan Lane, Dan Ackroyd, Bob Sagat, Abe Vigoda, Jon Lithgow, Juliette Lewis and James Lipton of Inside the Actor's Studio.

"The Worm" has been heard on numerous award-winning albums in every genre and continues to seek out creative live and studio situations with artists he loves, such as the exciting new jazz band that he helped create with pianist/songwriter Paul Tillotson & bassist Mike Merritt (also of the Tonight Show Band) called "The Love Trio" and his brand-new releases with amazing artists like Pete Francis (of Dispatch), Jenni Muldaur & Catherine Russell that were all just released recently.

Latest Recordings :

Grammy Award Winner Steve Rosenthal (Michael Powers/Jenni Muldaur)

Grammy Award Winner Jay Newland (Ayo)

Grammy Award Winner Rob Fraboni (Love Trio)

Grammy Nominated  Wicked : Shemekia Copeland 

Triumph The Insult Comic Dog CD & DVD

The Blues/Rock Piano Of Johnnie Johnson : Sessions With A Legend DVD

Catherine Russell: Sentimental Streak

Pete Francis (of Dispatch): Iron Sea And The Cavalry

Other Recording Credits Include : Madeleine Peyroux ,  Johnnie Johnson , John Sebastian ,Stevie Ray Vaughn , Archie Shepp ,  Hubert Sumlin , Son Seals  ,

Johnny Copeland , Paul Tillotson The Love Trio , The Vivino Brothers ,

Slo Leak/Danny Kortchmar , The Harry Smith Collection ,

Richard Leo Johnson and many more .

Television :

NBC's Late Night With Conan O'Brien (House Band )

Featured in Comedy Sketches with Jim Carrey,  Dan Ackroyd,  John Lithgow,  Nathan Lane,  Juliette Lewis and many more . . .

PBS  -  "The Mark Twain Prize" `Presented to Steve Martin at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

Featuring: Tom Hanks , Martin Short , Queen Latifah , Diane Keaton , Randy Newman , Larry David , Claire Danes , Lily Tomlin , Lorne Michaels and more .

PBS -   “The Mark Twain Prize”  Presented to Neil Simon at The Kennedy

Center in Washington D.C.

Featuring: Jason Alexander,   Christina Applegate,   Lucie Arnaz,  

Matthew Broderick,   Richard Dreyfuss,   Heather Headley,

Patricia Heaton,   Jane Kaczmarek,   Robert Klein,   Nathan Lane,  

Robert Redford,   Paul Reiser,   Jonathan Silverman,   Allen Toussaint

http://www.pbs.org/weta/twainprize2005/credits.html

http://www.IMDB.com/name/nm0941559/

Comedy Central's “Comedy Love Call” - Beacon Theater

w/ Adam Sandler , Jon Stewart , Lewis Black and the cast of NBC's

Saturday Night Live .

The Tony Danza Show with The Bacon Brothers

Good Morning America

Good Day New York

Various Appearances with "Triumph The Insult Comic Dog"

"The Guiding Light" / CBS

Live Appearances : Donald Fagen/Steely Dan , Wynton Marsalis , Cyndi Lauper , Rufus Wainwright , David Johansen, Levon Helm , Chuck Berry , BoDiddley ,

Jerry Lee Lewis , Buddy Guy , B.B. King , Pete Francis/Dispatch ,

Michael MacDonald , Phoebe Snow , Trisha Yearwood , Richie Havens ,

Keely Smith , Johnnie Johnson , Son Seals and many more .

Carnegie Hall Debut:   Hosted by Sandra Bernhard

 

Books that mention James :

All Music Guide To Rock : The Definitive Guide To Rock Pop And Soul by Bogdanov , Woodstra and Erlewine

Roadhouse Blues : Stevie Ray Vaughn and Texas R & B by Hugh Gregory

Swing : Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion by Scott Yanow

The History And Stories Of The Best Bars of New York by Jef Klein

Father Of Rock & Roll by Travis Fitzpatrick

Blues Mandolin Man: The Life and Music of Yank Rachell

(American Made Music Series)