About Jason James
Livin’, Writin’, Singin’ could very well be the motto of Mr. James. This talented troubadour hails from the Lone Star State and has been performing his brew of country music for over a decade. Jason James was born in Texas City, TX, a small coastal town that sits roughly 50 miles southeast of Houston, TX—a town known primarily for its refineries, as well as its tough, rough, and hard-working inhabitants.
James began honing and polishing his craft at a young age while performing for the blue-collar patrons who came to drink and dance their blues away on the weekends. After years of singing in beer joints and countless rejections from record labels, it was finally a home demo that landed on the owner’s desk of the esteemed record label New West that would forever alter James’ life. “We immediately heard the raw, unique talent this kid had,” said the executive.
The demo tape was sent by Jason’s mother, who helped book shows and managed Jason’s career in those early, lean years. It was also around this time that Jason met charismatic Texas songwriting titan John Evans on a show that they were both booked on. Evans and James quickly formed a friendship, and together with New West, they set about recording what would become Jason’s debut record.
A portion of the record was done in a home studio, then moved to Houston’s famed SugarHill Studios, with Grammy-winning Steve Christensen helping engineer the project, and finally finished up in Nashville, with the late guitarist/producer and friend of James, Keith Gattis, producing a few tracks. The self-titled Jason James was released in the summer of 2015 to rave reviews by critics and fans alike and contained 13 well-crafted, self-penned tracks, aside from one co-write with two of Jason’s songwriting heroes, Jim Lauderdale and Oddie Blackmon, “Walk Through My Heart.”
The album spawned four singles, one of which was the whiskey-soaked powerhouse “I’ve Been Drinkin’ More.” However, despite the success of the album and a 2017 Super Bowl commercial featuring Jason’s cover of an Ernest Tubb classic, “Let’s Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello,”- differences in artistic visions told Jason it was time to part ways and continue following the music that was in his heart.
James formed his own label, Melodyville Records, and with producer and friend John Evans back in the producer’s chair, they began work on the much-anticipated follow-up. The project was accompanied by top-notch Texas musicians, and the talented Patrick Hertzfield was brought on to engineer the project at Signal Hill, a premiere home studio located outside of Austin, TX. Released in October of 2019, Seems Like Tears Ago was met with critical acclaim and immediately became a fan favorite, proving Jason’s musical intuition was correct.
While the sophomore effort didn’t contain a “Drinkin’ More” smash, it did showcase an array of extremely well-crafted, self-penned instant classics. James claimed that the record was meant to be an open love letter to his songwriting heroes and to country music. James felt that country music had been betrayed by the big-money machine and had left its true intended audience out of the light and voiceless in favor of more pop-oriented, well-manicured acts.
Songwriting juggernauts such as the late Dallas Frazier and Peanutt Montgomery praised Jason for his masterful grip on writing instantly catchy songs. Even artists from the rock ’n’ roll universe—such as the late Mark Lanegan—wrote James to express the same admiration. The record also began to showcase a new dimension of Jason’s musical abilities. His voice had deepened and matured, and he found himself more in command as a singer. Known previously for his high-lonesome Hank Williams, Buck Owens and direct Johnny Cash–Esque voice, Tears Ago began showcasing Jason’s Lefty Frizzell and George Jones inflections—bending and curling notes, accessing baritone and bass registers, then gliding back into a haunted high lonesome.
While his singing does not overshadow his writing, the vocal change could not be overlooked. In a matter of a few years, James blossomed into a crooner and was now able to take vocal chances that very few (in any genre of music) can execute effectively, all without resorting to mimicry.
In 2020, shortly after the release, the COVID pandemic struck and grounded touring entirely. This destroyed many artists, as touring is the lifeblood of most musicians. But James’ records still played, and he continued to bring in new fans, especially when he began going live on Facebook for a weekly program called Live from the Lost Highway, created by fellow country traditionalist Joey Alcorn. The idea was to gather artists who still carried the torch of traditional country music and showcase them to a wider audience.
James quickly became one of the show’s most viewed and leading programs. Playing for virtual tips brought Jason a steady income due to the thousands who tuned in weekly while on lockdown during the pandemic. It was at this time that Jason began introducing new songs and playing them live on air, sometimes only hours before he was scheduled to go live.
In 2022, with John Evans once again by his side, Jason returned to the studio to begin work on his third record—this time at the studio of acclaimed bassist Dave Roe (Johnny Cash, Dwight Yoakam, Vern Gosdin, Jerry Reed), who also played on Jason’s debut album. Together, James, Evans, and Roe assembled an A-team, a true who’s who of country music musicians, many of whom are legends. Players such as steel guitarist Steve Hinson (Randy Travis, George Jones), who also played on Jason’s first record, were brought in, along with Cousin Kenny Vaughan (Lucinda Williams, Marty Stuart) on guitar and baritone. Four songs were recorded, with plans to resume the project a few months later. However, personal challenges for James and funding issues stalled the sessions.
Determined to move forward, James reached out to country music label owner and promoter Tracy Pitcox. Pitcox owns Heart of Texas Records in Brady, Texas, as well as an impressive country music museum filled with artifacts that would make any traditional country fan’s mouth water. A friendship quickly formed, and Tracy expressed interest in working with James. With funding secured once again, plans were made for Jason to return to Nashville to complete the record.
Tragically, during the hiatus, bassist and studio owner Dave Roe passed away unexpectedly. Other studios were suggested, but James insisted on finishing the record at Dave’s studio in his memory. When James and the band returned—along with the same core players—they discovered that the knobs, levels, and microphone settings on the mixing boards had been virtually untouched for nearly two years. It was as if they had only stepped out for a short lunch break.
The album was finally completed and is slated for release in 2026.
Recently, James was invited to appear on The Malpass Brothers Show, a beloved traditional country duo known for preserving classic country sounds. The Malpass Brothers also host a highly popular television show on RFD-TV, with a devoted traditional country audience. During the appearance, Tracy Pitcox unexpectedly asked James if he would like to officially sign with Heart of Texas Records. James happily agreed. Shortly thereafter, he was also invited to join the Malpass Brothers on tour.
James has walked a long country mile—and he’s still going.
Whether you love his voice, his songs, or both, it’s clear that James’s devotion to traditional country music is unwavering. He isn’t a polished Nashville act, nor does he pretend to be anything he’s not. He’s a regular person—a country boy—authentic to his core. His writing gives voice to the voiceless, the brokenhearted, the forgotten, and the damned.
James is undoubtedly on his way to becoming a mainstay in country music for years to come. So, come see his show when he rolls through your town. Until then, he’ll keep on
Livin’. Writin’. Singin’.
