james led the early 1960s band the lawmen before joining denny laine and the diplomats in spring 1963, which was soon renamed nicky james with denny laine and the diplomats. after attracting the attention of pye records producer tony hatch, nicky left the diplomats in fall 1963 to record a solo single, "my colour is blue." he continued to play in a number of bands, including the mod band the jamesons alongside john walker (aka john maus) of the walker brothers. soon, james re-united with former diplomats in a new group, the moody blues 5. two months after james's departure, the band shortened their name to the moody blues, signed to decca records, and had their first #1 hit at the end of 1964 with "go now".