Hilary James has achieved one of those rare things, a successful career in music spanning almost thirty years. She was one of the first musicians to set up her own label back in 1979, and has since released a total of twenty two albums, as well as a catalogue of best selling music books and videos with long-time partner, mandolin virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist, Simon Mayor.

Possessed of "one of Britain’s finest voices" (BBC Radio 4) she is also a fine instrumentalist, self-taught on double bass and guitar, who rarely appears these days without her amazing mandobass.

Laughing with the Moon , a mix of traditional and original songs and tunes, is Hilary's fourth solo album, although it features Simon Mayor's mandolin on four instrumental tracks. Indeed, their names are usually mentioned in the same breath: they have played on each other's albums and run bands together since the mid 70s. Slim Panatella and the Mellow Virginians, Mandolinquents and, going right back to their first student project, Spredthick gained them early national acclaim with headlines in the Melody Maker, an appearance on the main stage at the Cambridge Festival and first place in a national music competition. Whilst Hilary has the vision driving the business, Simon is the technical brains running the Acoustics studio. Their albums have now been played across the media from Radio 3 and Classic FM to a Radio 2 Album of the Week and BBC World Service Recording of the Week as well as playlists on stations from Latvia to Seattle.

In 1996 they also set up their own production company to produce the acclaimed series Marooned with a Mandolin, described as "the best programme on Radio 2 this week" by Gillian Reynolds in the Independent. Captivating live performers, they have appeared at festivals and concerts across the globe from Seattle to Singapore.

Back in 1976, even with a degree in Fine Art and a post graduate teaching qualification under her belt, Hilary decided to pursue a career in music. She and Simon also determined to maintain a keen involvement in music for children, and still fit in schools performances whenever schedules allow. They went on to present and write for BBC Schools music programmes for six years and have written over sixty songs for children and have produced five albums in their Musical Mystery Tour series. In 1992, Faber Music published a book of their songs which Hilary illustrated.

Although she chose music as her career, she is still a keen artist and illustrator and her cartoons adorn the covers of the Musical Mystery Tour CDs.