James T. Slater
Encyclopedia
James Slater is a grammy nominated singer/songwriter based in Nashville. He has contributed several hit songs to the canon of American popular music.
, North Carolina
. His father is a psychiatrist who loves to play the mandolin, and his mother is a native Spanish speaker. He was raised in the tropics of the Panama Canal Zone
in Central America
and is of Bolivian
descent.
, Switzerland
where he lived for six years and enjoyed touring, recording, and writing music. During this time, he wrote “Don’t Break My Heart
,” for Belgian super group Vaya Con Dios
, signed a solo contract with BMG
Switzerland, and penned the hit “Poco a Poco.”
As of 2010, Slater lives in in Nashville, Tennessee
. Upon his arrival, he signed with Byron Gallimore’s Song Garden/State One publishing company but has recently made the move to EMI
Music Publishing. During his time in Nashville, his songs have been recorded by country superstars like Tim McGraw
, Kenny Chesney
, Martina McBride
, Rodney Atkins
, John Michael Montgomery
, Lorrie Morgan
, Jessica Andrews
, and Mark Wills
, among others. McBride's recording of “In My Daughter’s Eyes”
has become a contemporary standard and garnered Slater a 2006 BMI country award as well as a BMI pop award. The song was also nominated for a Grammy for best vocal performance. James recently was nominated for the country song of the year Grammy for Jamey Johnson's
"The High Cost of Living". He has also penned Rascal Flatts
' single, "Unstoppable"
which was used as a theme for the winter Olympics in Vancouver and has written American Idol Kellie Pickler's
single, "Falling In Love Again".
James' song "Maggie Creek Road" is featured on Reba McEntire's
2009 album Keep On Loving You
which debuted at number 1 on the pop
and country
charts. Slater was featured in CMT’s
in Season 1 of “Gone Country”
where he co-wrote the winning song “The Way That I Want You”, (which was sung by Julio Iglesias Jr).
: "Summer Girl"
Rascal Flatts
: "Unstoppable"
(featured as a theme for the Vancouver Olympic games) - Top 5 Single
Jamey Johnson
: "High Cost of Living: - nominated for a grammy for Country Song of the Year
Jessica Andrews
- "There's More To Me Than You" - Top 20 Single
Martina McBride
- "In My Daughter's Eyes
" - Grammy nominated Top 5 Single
Kellie Pickler
- "Makin' Me Fall In Love Again
- Top 30 Single
Fisher Stevenson - "No Tomorrow Here Tonight" - Top 40 Single
Julio Inglesias Jr. - "The Way I Want You" - Gone Country Season 1
Sheila E - "Glorious Train" - Gone Country Season 3
John Michael Montgomery
- "Forever" -Top 40 Single
Background
James Slater was born in DurhamDurham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. His father is a psychiatrist who loves to play the mandolin, and his mother is a native Spanish speaker. He was raised in the tropics of the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and is of Bolivian
Bolivian
Bolivian may refer to:* Something of, or related to Bolivia** Demographics of Bolivia** Culture of BoliviaBolivian is a citizen of Bolivia...
descent.
Career
After high school, Slater attended and graduated from the University of Miami School of Music. After a brief move to Los Angeles, he moved again to ZurichZürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
where he lived for six years and enjoyed touring, recording, and writing music. During this time, he wrote “Don’t Break My Heart
Don't Break My Heart (Vaya Con Dios song)
"Don't Break My Heart" is a 1995 soft rock song by the Belgian band Vaya Con Dios. It was released in 1995 as the first single from the band's fourth studio album Roots and Wings.-Track listings:# Don't Break My Heart...
,” for Belgian super group Vaya Con Dios
Vaya Con Dios (band)
Vaya Con Dios is a Belgian musical group founded in 1986 by Dani Klein, Dirk Schoufs, and Willy Lambregt . Their name is Spanish for "Go with God"...
, signed a solo contract with BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
Switzerland, and penned the hit “Poco a Poco.”
As of 2010, Slater lives in in Nashville, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. Upon his arrival, he signed with Byron Gallimore’s Song Garden/State One publishing company but has recently made the move to EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Music Publishing. During his time in Nashville, his songs have been recorded by country superstars like Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
, Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
, Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
, Rodney Atkins
Rodney Atkins
Rodney Allan Atkins is an American country music artist. Signed to Curb Records in 1996, he charted his first single on the Billboard country chart that year, but did not release an album until 2003's Honesty, which included the number 4 hit "Honesty ".If You're Going Through Hell, his second...
, John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery is an American country music artist. He has produced more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts, including two of Billboard’s Number One country singles of the year: "I Swear" and "Sold "...
, Lorrie Morgan
Lorrie Morgan
In 1996 Morgan married Jon Randall, a singer/songwriter now credited with writing the 2004 Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss hit "Whiskey Lullaby"; they divorced three years later in 1999....
, Jessica Andrews
Jessica Andrews
Jessica Danielle Andrews is an American country music singer. At age 15 in mid-1999, she made her debut on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts with the single "I Will Be There for You", from her debut album Heart Shaped World, released in 1999 on DreamWorks Records Nashville.Andrews...
, and Mark Wills
Mark Wills
Daryl Mark Williams is an American country music artist, best known professionally as Mark Wills. Signed to Mercury Records between 1996 and 2003, he released five studio albums for the label — Mark Wills, Wish You Were Here, Permanently, Loving Every Minute and And the Crowd Goes Wild — as well...
, among others. McBride's recording of “In My Daughter’s Eyes”
In My Daughter's Eyes
"In My Daughter's Eyes" is the second single released from country singer Martina McBride's Martina album. The song was released to country radio in November 2003 and peaked at number 4 on the Hot Country Songs charts...
has become a contemporary standard and garnered Slater a 2006 BMI country award as well as a BMI pop award. The song was also nominated for a Grammy for best vocal performance. James recently was nominated for the country song of the year Grammy for Jamey Johnson's
Jamey Johnson
Jamey Johnson is an American Grammy Award nominated country music artist. Signed to BNA Records in 2005, Johnson made his debut with his single "The Dollar," the title track to his 2006 album The Dollar...
"The High Cost of Living". He has also penned Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
' single, "Unstoppable"
Unstoppable (Rascal Flatts song)
"Unstoppable" is the title of a song written by Hillary Lindsey, Jay Demarcus, and James Slater, and recorded by American country group Rascal Flatts...
which was used as a theme for the winter Olympics in Vancouver and has written American Idol Kellie Pickler's
Kellie Pickler
Kellie Dawn Pickler is an American country music artist and television personality. She gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of the Fox reality show American Idol, eventually finishing in sixth place. In 2006, she signed to 19 Recordings and BNA Records as a recording artist, releasing...
single, "Falling In Love Again".
James' song "Maggie Creek Road" is featured on Reba McEntire's
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
2009 album Keep On Loving You
Keep on Loving You (album)
Keep On Loving You is the twenty-fifth studio album and twenty-fourth solo album by American country artist, Reba McEntire. The album was released August 18, 2009 on Starstruck/Valory and on Humphead Records in the UK, and was produced by Tony Brown, Mark Bright, and McEntire.Keep On Loving You is...
which debuted at number 1 on the pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
charts. Slater was featured in CMT’s
CMT
- Medicine :* California mastitis test* Certified Massage Therapist* Cervical motion tenderness, a sign of pelvic inflammatory disease* Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease* Chemically modified tetracyclines* Circus Movement Tachycardia...
in Season 1 of “Gone Country”
Gone Country (TV series)
Gone Country is an American celebrity reality television show in which contestants compete to become a country music singer. The winner gets a country single produced by John Rich. It aired on CMT, with reruns on TV Land, and VH1. On the first season finale, Julio Iglesias Jr...
where he co-wrote the winning song “The Way That I Want You”, (which was sung by Julio Iglesias Jr).
Discography
Country Strong SoundtrackCountry Strong (soundtrack)
-Original Motion Picture Soundtrack:*Byron Gallimore — tracks 1, 7, 12*James Stroud — track 2*Tony Brown — track 3*Frank Liddell and Luke Wooten — track 4*Frank Liddell and Chuck Ainlay — track 5*Ronnie Dunn — track 6*Michael Knox — track 8...
: "Summer Girl"
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
: "Unstoppable"
Unstoppable (Rascal Flatts song)
"Unstoppable" is the title of a song written by Hillary Lindsey, Jay Demarcus, and James Slater, and recorded by American country group Rascal Flatts...
(featured as a theme for the Vancouver Olympic games) - Top 5 Single
Jamey Johnson
Jamey Johnson
Jamey Johnson is an American Grammy Award nominated country music artist. Signed to BNA Records in 2005, Johnson made his debut with his single "The Dollar," the title track to his 2006 album The Dollar...
: "High Cost of Living: - nominated for a grammy for Country Song of the Year
Jessica Andrews
Jessica Andrews
Jessica Danielle Andrews is an American country music singer. At age 15 in mid-1999, she made her debut on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts with the single "I Will Be There for You", from her debut album Heart Shaped World, released in 1999 on DreamWorks Records Nashville.Andrews...
- "There's More To Me Than You" - Top 20 Single
Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
- "In My Daughter's Eyes
In My Daughter's Eyes
"In My Daughter's Eyes" is the second single released from country singer Martina McBride's Martina album. The song was released to country radio in November 2003 and peaked at number 4 on the Hot Country Songs charts...
" - Grammy nominated Top 5 Single
Kellie Pickler
Kellie Pickler
Kellie Dawn Pickler is an American country music artist and television personality. She gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of the Fox reality show American Idol, eventually finishing in sixth place. In 2006, she signed to 19 Recordings and BNA Records as a recording artist, releasing...
- "Makin' Me Fall In Love Again
Makin' Me Fall in Love Again
"Makin' Me Fall in Love Again" is the title of a song written by Karyn Rochelle, James T. Slater, and Shane Stevens, and recorded by American country artist Kellie Pickler. It was released in April 2010 as the fourth single from her self-titled second album....
- Top 30 Single
Fisher Stevenson - "No Tomorrow Here Tonight" - Top 40 Single
Julio Inglesias Jr. - "The Way I Want You" - Gone Country Season 1
Sheila E - "Glorious Train" - Gone Country Season 3
John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery is an American country music artist. He has produced more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts, including two of Billboard’s Number One country singles of the year: "I Swear" and "Sold "...
- "Forever" -Top 40 Single