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Season 6, Episode 12

Timothy James' journey from Iron Workers Local 7 to country music

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Guest Name:

Timothy James

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Timothy James 

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Timothy James, a former member of Iron Workers Local 7, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to share his unique journey from setting iron to singing on stages, and the inspiration behind his new song, "Ironworker Anthem." 

James grew up in an Ironworker family and worked in the trade with his late father as a member of Iron Workers Local 7 in Boston. Following in his father's footsteps, James worked as an Ironworker for several years before pursuing his passion for music. His experience in the trade, combined with his musical talent has given him a unique ability to captivate an audience while sharing his experiences on the tools.

James' transition from Ironworker to musician wasn't immediate. He explained that after leaving the trade, he initially became a plumber before eventually starting his own business. However, his love for music never faded. The artist explained how his trade experiences influenced his songwriting, particularly when crafting the "Ironworker Anthem."

The “Ironworker Anthem” came together in an interesting way, James said. Inspired by his years of lived experience and connection to the ironworking community, the entire song was created in a matter of minutes. The physical demands and dangers of ironwork, along with the close calls and tragic accidents he witnessed on job sites, influenced the lyrics. James said "Ironworker Anthem" is a tribute to the hardworking men and women in the trade, giving voice to their experiences and challenges.

For more from James and the “Ironworker Anthem,” listen to the show above. Then be sure to get your copy of the "Ironworker Anthem," which debuts tomorrow, January 17. Visit therealbostoncowboy.com for more information.

America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

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