James began his career in music as a songwriter and post-punk rocker, but after the tour van of his most promising band (Idle, Big Deal Records) caught fire en route from a gig, he settled into the more respectable life of a “performing arts presenter.” He now has over twenty-seven years of leadership experience producing music for Paradigm Associated Labels, Reel to Reel Records, Central Park SummerStage, Westhampton Beach PAC and currently Make Music New York and Rise Up NYC.