Joelle James

Luck o' the Angels
CHARMED SINGER: When a Murrieta teen performs at home games, the team usually wins.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise, October 14, 2005
By MICHAEL FISHER

Joelle James is undefeated in her two starts in the Angels postseason, and the Murrieta teen-turned-lucky-charm hopes to improve her record tonight.

Joelle James, 15, of Murrieta, will sing tonight when the Angels host the White Sox.

PHOTO: Frank Bellino / The Press-Enterprise

When her beloved Angels take the field, Joelle will welcome the team and about 45,000 fans with her stirring, soulful rendition of the national anthem, just as she did before the team's two home victories against the New York Yankees during the American League Divisional Series earlier this month.

In baseball, a game rife with superstition, the Murrieta Valley High School sophomore is considered a four-leaf clover by the Angels and the team's fans. When she sings, the team tends to win, having gone 8-3 this season in games where she wowed the crowd.

While she's a skeptic when it comes to superstitious notions, the aspiring recording artist also is a diehard Angels fan who wore the same outfit, including an Angels jersey with her last name emblazoned across the shoulders, to both of her playoff performances this month so as not to jinx the team.

"I don't think I'm a good-luck charm. I just think the Angels are awesome and that's why they're winning," said Joelle, 15, who was tapped by the team to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at its past three home openers.

Advance Bookings

Fans say Joelle pumps up the crowd with her rousing performances.

"She can belt it out there," said Angel supporter Ed Lehman, of Murrieta, who saw her perform before the team's Oct. 5 5-3 win over the Yankees. "To hear someone her age who's able to sing in front of a crowd and to be able to sing like that, that's unbelievable."

Angels officials agree, saying that they not only booked Joelle for tonight, but they asked her to keep Saturday and Sunday open as well.

"If you've got something golden, why mess with it?" said Heather Capizzi, an entertainment coordinator for the Angels.

As a performer, Joelle is not paid but she does get tickets to the game for her and her family.

Although Joelle doesn't buy into superstition, her mother, Julie, notes how the family sat in the same car seats for their drives to both playoff games, and they arrived exactly eight minutes later than they planned each time. In the stands, Joelle's grandfather, Tom, kept track of the games in his scorebook -- which has no recorded Angels losses for the year -- using the same pencil.

'It's About the Song'

Joelle is a regular on the Southern California sports circuit. She started singing the national anthem at minor league Lake Elsinore Storm games in 2001, and has since performed for every major sports team in the region, except the Los Angeles Clippers. She sang the anthem at NASCAR's Auto Club 500 at the California Speedway in Fontana in February.

"It's our country's song. It's not about the singer, it's about the song," Joelle said.

Before each performance, regardless of the venue, she prays with her family.

"It's always a little nerve-racking to be in front of a huge crowd to sing your nation's anthem, and you're hoping you don't forget a word or hit a note wrong," said Joelle, adding she never has flubbed the song.

Joelle and her parents keep her singing low-key, saying they don't go looking for gigs. She credits her success to her family and her mother, who drives her to performances.

"She knew I had a talent, and she was willing to help me and support me," said Joelle, who has two younger siblings, Jack and Emily.

It Began With the Choir

Joelle describes herself as a regular teen, a high school cheerleader who works in student government and likes hanging out with friends, shopping and going to the movies. Her musical tastes run from Aretha Franklin to James Brown to Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera.

Joelle started singing when she was 5 with her church choir. She now works with a voice coach and practices about 40 minutes daily.

If the Angels make the World Series, her chances of singing the national anthem at a championship game are slim. Major League Baseball books the performers, typically shooting for nationally recognized recording artists.

"I love to perform. I love to see the reaction. I want to be a recording artist and have a band, and play music that people want to hear," Joelle said.