BIO

Casey James rose to national attention and became a household name overnight as a contestant on American Idol. Using his fierce instrumental skills, emotional tenor and musical talent, he landed high among the finalists, 3rd to be exact. After over a decade of playing shows as a local musician in the DFW area of Texas, James suddenly had opportunities he had only dreamed of. The success he experienced during the show brought him a recording contract with a major country label. He took the offer, although the tight creative limitations on commercial country overlapped only partially with the music at the center of his soul. James made the opportunity work. He landed hits with “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night” and “Crying on A Suitcase” – however, thethree-minute time frames and limits on instrumental playing did not allow him to showcase hisartistic vision. Five years and four radio singles later, James left his major label deal with hopes of being able to make music without limitations.

With his 2017 album Strip It Down, he made the blues project he’d always envisioned introducing his music to a whole new demographic, which was well received worldwide. Teaming up with Grammy Award Winner Tom Hambridge was a great start, and James was left with a record that garnered rave reviews from Blues/Rock/Americana media outlets and fans across the world – with the Rock Doctor raving that that Strip It Down was “one hell of a delightful surprise!” He had finally busted into the scene he’d always wanted to be a part of. With his 2020 follow-up, If You Don’t Know By Now, James dug in deeper on the genre, exploring its range while setting himself apart as an inspired, melodic guitarist as well as an expressive, soulful vocalist. It’s a stark commitment to a musical form lodged firmly in his soul. James attacked If You Don’t Know By Now with a new level of confidence, thanks in part to his affirming experience with Strip It Down.

“We need to remind humanity what music is about,” James says. “It's not about money. It's not about fame. At the end of the day, you can remove all that, take away technology, take away marketing, but the music will remain. It's unkillable. As long as human beings live, music will remain, and that brings me joy.”

At the long-time request of his fans James has embarked on an exciting journey and is eagerly embracing the opportunity to connect with them on a deeper lever through his upcoming acoustic album. The project promises to showcase his talent in a more intimate setting, highlighting the emotive power of his lyrics and the subtle nuances of his guitar work. His fans can look forward to a collection of heartfelt acoustic renditions set to be released this fall, offering a fresh perspective of his already beloved repertoire. “I’m beyond excited to finally get this material on a record and to perform it live. Some of the songs will be familiar to my fans and some will be new, but it’s exciting to deliver all of them from the perspective I have right now.

“I’m thankful to have a dedicated audience that believes in who I am and what I do. I couldn’t ask for more and I’m always excited for what’s next.” – Casey James.