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WITH HIS MATINEE idol looks, rich velvet voice and bittersweet tales of rivals ruffled and lovers lost, boxer-turned-balladeer robert joe james is sizzling swing wrapped up in 21st century swagger.
Coolly blending Rat Pack pizzazz with his own brand of jazz-tinged noughties nonchalance, the 28-year-old Londoner's debut album, The Way It Goes, packs a serious punch.
And with the array of talent he's pulled into the ring for his first professional musical bout it's no surprise that his charismatic combination of original big band barnstormers and introspective ballads looks set to hook audiences left, right and centre.
Arranged by Steve Turner (Beyonce, Bono, Kylie Minogue and Chris Martin), produced and co-written with Julian Littman with dynamic percussion support from Chris Dagley (Jamiroquai, Eric Clapton and Chaka Khan) and Fergus Gerrand (Madonna, All Saints, Take That and Duran Duran), it's an accomplished debut for a fledgling performer.
But therein lies the essence of robert joe james.
While most of today's manufactured pop puppets were being primed for stardom by high-trousered record company executives he was busy stocking up on life experience. And now he's reaping the benefits.
"I grew up listening to all my grandad's Perry Como records," says Robert, "And Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett have always been big heroes of mine."
But it's only in the last two years that this lifelong musical passion has found its way to the surface.
Before that, Robert made sweet music in East London's boxing rings. He trained at the world famous Peacock Gym and sparred with former WBO featherweight champion Colin McMillan before winning the Southern Eastern Schoolboys title and the Essex Schoolboys crown two years running, winning 30 of his 36 bouts.
"Much as I've loved all the other things I've done with my life, this album feels like the most natural thing in the world," says Robert. "It feels like what I was put on earth to do. Originally it was going to be mostly covers but once I started writing I couldn't stop. It's as if these songs were meant to be."
The album is also a tribute to the grandad who ignited his musical passion in the first place. "If he hadn't introduced me to music when I was a kid," says Robert, "I wouldn't be doing this now. So this one's for him."
The result screams smoky Las Vegas bars, Chicago speakeasies, laced with a hint of seductive Soho sleaze. It's all gangsters, stolen glances and brooding desire.
As Robert says, the music, "licks and sways like the sea, fresh and refreshing," but scratch not too far beneath the surface and it's an altogether darker creation.
I give you Robert Joe James Everybody!
