James began his career in the music business 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 an arts presenter. He now has over twenty-five years of leadership experience producing music for Paradigm Associated Labels, Reel to Reel Records, City Parks Foundation/Central Park SummerStage, Westhampton Beach PAC and currently as Executive Director of Make Music New York.