Canadian guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer Colin James will be inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame this March.

Through his 25-year career, Regina-born, Vancouver-based James has performed blues, rock, pop and jazz.

He began his career in the 1980s as a pop vocalist. He topped the charts with Just Came Back, which earned him the Juno Award for single of the year.

Colin James will to be inducted to the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. (colinjames.com)

His blues songs earned him international acclaim and he's worked with artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Lenny Kravitz, Albert King, Mavis Staples, Carlos Santana and Mick Fleetwood. James was credited with helping launch the swing revival in the 1990s with his Little Big Band, which he fronted and produced. The group has released four successful albums.

However, his most recent recording, Fifteen, is a return to the artist's rock roots.

James “injected what we commonly knew in the’80s as pop rock with his incredible zeal for blues and immediately gained commercial adoration,” Neill Dixon, president of Canadian Music Week, said in a statement announcing the induction.

“He also single-handedly piloted the revival of swing in the ‘90s with his uncanny adeptness for jazz standards. There are few artists who can do that and yet continue to be actively current today.”

Overall, James has won six Juno Awards and multiple Maple Blues Awards.

The Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame — not to be confused with the Canadian Music Hall of Fame — honours producers, musicians and industry figures who have contributed to the Canadian music scene. Past inductees include Daniel Lanois, Shania Twain and Rush.

James' contribution to music will be celebrated on March 21 during the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards gala in Toronto, as part of Canadian Music Week events. He also will play a concert in Toronto on March 20.