James began his stage career in 1904, joining Willy Netta's Singing Jockeys, a singing group, as "Terry, the blue-eyed Irish boy" with popular songs of the day[REF] and gained experience with a number of other juvenile troupes [REF].
James appeared in Stockton as a double act with his great uncle Jimmy Howells and they were known as The Two Jimmies [REF].