Michael James
By Dan Murphy
Yonkers residents, and many former Yonkers residents have enjoyed a new song, Raised in the City of Hills, released by Yonkers native Michael James Vitrit, whose stage name is Michael James.
James grew up in Yonkers, went to Roosevelt High School, class of 1987, and played football, both for Roosevelt under legendary coach Tony DeMatteo.
We spoke to James about his song and found out that James is not a professional singer. In fact, he created this song a few months ago. While he wrote and produced it, it is an AI generated voice. He calls it a Country Rock song.
“Yonkers has a way of staying with you. Raised by the City of Hills was written from my own memories of growing up in Yonkers, but it has become much bigger. Since sharing it, I’ve heard from current and former Yonkers residents sharing stories about their neighborhoods, schools, friendships, families and the places that helped shape them.
“Some of those stories have even reconnected people after decades. That’s the real heart of this song. No matter where life takes us, a part of Yonkers comes with us”
“We’re now working to get the song onto all streaming platforms, and we’ve already started thinking about a second version that can bring even more Yonkers landmarks, neighborhoods, and memories into the story. There is simply too much history to fit into one song,” said James.
Here are some of the lyrics
Before the skyline changed its face, Before the old signs disappeared,
Getty Square was full of life, And every corner held a year.
South Broadway down to Nepperhan, The Sugar House beside the tide,
Old Proctor lights and Carnegie walls, With the Hudson rolling by.
Nothing there was ever level, Every road could test your will,
Maybe that’s where we first learned, How to keep climbing every hill.
You can leave those streets behind you, But you carry Yonkers all your life.
Cross County on a Saturday, Wanamaker’s, Gimbels in their day,
A movie down at Central Cinema, Then something hot along the way.
Sal’s Pizza down on Nepperhan, Tropic Frost on Yonkers Ave,
A wedge wrapped tight at Landi’s deli
Roosevelt red, Gorton pride, Lincoln, Yonkers High stood tall, We thought those days would never fall.
We were raised in a city of hills, Where the Hudson watched us grow.
We learned to fight, we learned to laugh, We learned how far our hearts could go.
From Getty Square to Central Ave, Through every change and every mile,
You can leave those streets behind you, But you carry Yonkers all your life.
Cruising Central in the eighties, Windows down and radios loud,
South Seas, San Martino’s nights, Running with that hometown crowd.
Beefsteak Charlie’s, Charlie Brown’s, Ground Round shells beneath our feet,
Late-night stories, old friends laughing, Every memory had a street.
Yonkers Raceway on a Sunday, Flea market treasures row by row,
Jeffrey Park up on the hillside, Watching generations come and go.
The Saw Mill taught us how to drive, Those Lockwood turns could test your nerve
We learned early in those Yonkers hills, You earn whatever road you deserve.
I still see Proctor’s marquee shining, Hear the buses coming down the line,
See the Palisades across the water, Like a picture frozen back in time.
They can’t erase where you’re from.”
James hopes to have this song and his other songs released to all music streaming platforms, including YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music and more.
His Spotify artist page is Michael James https://open.spotify.com/artist/7wBNHE4BzScf3bxgMiUbPj?si=a8w1eMloQ0W6ssEnkV-Nyw&utm_source=copy-link
“I hope people hear the song, Raised in the City of Hills and remember who they are, who helped them and why Yonkers will always be a part of them. If it brings families together to share their stories, then the song has done something much bigger than I ever imagined
“My mom and I grew up in Yonkers, and I lived there for 26 years. I live in North Carolina now, but I never forgot about Yonkers. It’s my love and I wanted to put it out there.”
“This song is about resilience and grit and getting knocked down but getting up and moving forward. I have gotten thousands of comments and I’m trying to respond to everyone.
“I’m looking to collaborate with some big-time artists, and I would love to have these songs performed live. You can leave Yonkers, but Yonkers never leaves you,” said James who has worked for Xerox for 38 years, with their old offices on Executive Boulevard.”
Listen to the song on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/reel/989057014152037