Click above to see a selection of photographs of the event

James with Kevin, the host of the show.

James arrived on Friday.  That night at rehearsals, James watched as everyone took the stage.  He then went to the back of the auditorium and sat alone as he prepared himself to perform.  He said he missed his wife, and wished she could be there.   No one in the room expected to hear the sound that came from this man.

James took the audience by surprise.  He stepped up to the platform and most were expecting "New Kids On The Block".... but on stage, he became a different person.  James has a raw talent.  He started singing when he was 18, by accident. A teacher at his school happened to walk by and heard him humming, and looked at him and said "you are dropping one of your classes, you are now in chorus".

James has been singing on and off for the past 6 years.  He commented that he had just recently began to sing on a serious level again just months prior to the competition.  As he viewed his performance tape, he stated "this is the first time I've seen myself on tape, that  I don't think I look silly". Producers approached James the minute he finished his performance, wanting to know more about him, and his music background. 

It's amazing how something so small as "vocal cords" can take over the entire body.  The voice is a wonderful instrument, and when you put emotions in your song, you can move others with your sound. 

"Oohohhhhohohhhh...yeahhhehehahhhhhhahh..."   James was friends with everyone, and loved to sing and dance.  He would break into song "anywhere" he was.  Returning to the hotel, he said "I wrote a song for my wife, you guys want to hear it?"  There were 15 of us in that van and while he sang,  each of us sat in silence as he poured out his love for his wife that was unable to attend the event.

james@thesingersclub.com
5-1-99 Texas