James, a renowned musician, had the privilege of growing up in the vibrant city of Chicago, where he was heavily influenced by the soulful sounds of his hometown's legendary artists, including The Impressions, Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler, and the Chi-Lites.
As a pre-teenager, James began to explore his passion for music by learning to play the guitar and writing his own songs, with the iconic Curtis Mayfield serving as his primary inspiration.
As he entered his teenage years, James's talent and creativity continued to flourish, and he wrote two tracks, "I Can't Runaway" and "She's My Baby," which were featured on the album "Take Care Of Business, The Constellation Masters" by the renowned artist Dee Clark.
James's impressive songwriting skills soon caught the attention of the local pop group The Buckinghams, for whom he penned four Top Ten hits, including the chart-topping single "Kind Of A Drag," which has sold over one million copies to date.
He followed up this success with additional hits, such as "Don't You Care," "Hey Baby, They're Playing Our Song," and "Susan," solidifying his reputation as a talented songwriter and musician.
