- Jessica James
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Jessica James 
Jessica James in December 2009.Background information Birth name Jessica Rose James Born April 12, 1988
Vicenza, ItalyOrigin Warner Robins, Georgia,
United StatesGenres Country, pop[1] Occupations Singer, songwriter Years active 2008–present Labels Mercury, Show Dog-Universal Music Website www.thisisjessiejames.com Jessica Rose James, (born April 12, 1988) is an American country pop singer and songwriter. Having auditioned for and being rejected by most of the country labels in Cashville, Tennessee at the age of fifteen, James began working on refining her craft with Karla Wallace of Yellow Dog Records. One of her songs attracted the attention of a record executive who got her signed to Mercury Records. Prior to 2011, James recorded as Jessie James and released her self-titled debut album in 2009.
Contents
Life and career
James was born April 12, 1988 in Vicenza, Italy.[1][2] She began singing at the age of two and won her first talent contest in Baker, Louisiana at the age of nine singing "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart". She told her mother about the show after hearing about it from her grandmother.[3] By then, she had already been writing songs on a plastic guitar and performed at Sea World and a Republican Convention.[2] James relocated to Warner Robins, Georgia in 2000.[1] At age fifteen, she made weekly trips to Nashville to hone her songwriting.[3] She had auditioned and was turned down by almost all the country labels in Nashville, Tennessee, with one label head offering a development deal instead.[4]
James was introduced to Karla Wallace of independent label Yellow Dog Records at seventeen who helped her with her songwriting and singing. One of her songs, "Gypsy Girl", written with two writers from Yellow Dog had been pitched to American Idol contestant and winner, Carrie Underwood, who put it on hold for her record, made it into the hands of record executive David Massey who brought her to the attention of L.A. Reid. She auditioned for Reid singing her song, "My Cowboy", produced by John Rich. James soon inked a contract with Mercury Records.[5] Her debut album, Jessie James was released in August 2009, debuting at number twenty-three on the Billboard 200. The music on the album was a fusion between country and pop music, with more emphasis placed on the latter as dictated by her label. The album featured writing credits from James and seasoned pop songwriter Kara Dioguardi and Mitch Allan among others.[4] Its first single, "Wanted" had been released in April and peaked at number forty on the Billboard Hot 100. She later performed in the Middle East with singer Kid Rock and comedian Carlos Mencia for US troops stationed overseas.[2]
James began working on her second album in 2010, initially planned to be released in late summer.[6] The album was to be of the same country-pop sound as her debut, with James being given more leeway by Mercury in incorporating country sounds.[4] First single, "Boys in the Summer" released in June, was a minor country success but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Following the commercial disappointment of the single, she signed with country label Show Dog-Universal Music, which had facilitated the country release of "Boys in the Summer", in November. After switching labels, James began working on a country genre album, Sweet American Dreams and began recording in April 2011.[7] She had previously described herself in an interview as "a country girl at heart," having grown up listening to the genre, preferring it to pop.[4]
Musical style and influences
James co-wrote the majority of the songs on her debut album.[3] The album is of a country pop fusion genre, revealing her taste for not only country music, but pop and soul music as well.[3] The beat for "Blue Jeans" was a recording of James stepping, as she was in the step team in school.[8] Initially, she faced opposition for her soul music inspired vocal runs when trying to get signed in Nashville.[3] She has listed Christina Aguilera, Bobbie Gentry, Janis Joplin, Shelby Lynne, and Shania Twain as influences.[3][9] Initially, she also stated that she wanted a career similar to those of Gentry and Twain, who were signed to pop labels but found crossover success in both country and pop music.[3]
Personal life
James is currently dating Eric Decker, who is a starting wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League.[10]
Discography
Jessica James in December 2009.
Studio albums
Title Details Peak positions US
[11]Jessie James - Release date: August 11, 2009
- Label: Mercury Records
- Formats: CD, music download
23 Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)Album US
[12]US
Pop
[13]US Dance
[14]US Country
[15]CAN
[16]2009 "Wanted" 40 23 18 — 82 Jessie James "I Look So Good (Without You)" — — — — — "My Cowboy" — — — — — 2010 "Boys in the Summer" — — — 58 — Non-album song "—" denotes releases that did not chart Music videos
Year Video Director 2009 "Wanted" Travis Kopach[18] "I Look So Good (Without You)" Chris Baldwin[19] "My Cowboy" Colin Tilley[20] 2010 "Boys in the Summer" Roman White[21] "Dear John" Roman Dent[22] Other appearances
2010: "Come Undone" (My Darkest Days featuring Jessie James)
References
- ^ a b c Leahey, Andrew. "(((Jessie James > Overview)))" Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-6-24.
- ^ a b c "Jessie James Official Website
- ^ a b c d e f g "Interview: Jessie James – Singer and Songwriter – Blogcritics Music". Blogcritics.org. http://blogcritics.org/music/article/interview-jessie-james-singer-and-songwriter/. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- ^ a b c d Jessie James interview : Beatweek Magazine. Beatweek.com (2010-09-07). Retrieved on 2011-10-14.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Jessie James reveals new album title: Daughter of a Gypsy : Beatweek Magazine. Beatweek.com (2010-07-16). Retrieved on 2011-10-14.
- ^ http://twitter.com/#!/iamjessiejames/status/54724151990165504
- ^ Interview: Jessie James – ARTISTdirect News. Artistdirect.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-14.
- ^ "Artist in the Wings – Jessie James". Top40.about.com. 2009-05-28. http://top40.about.com/b/2009/05/28/artist-in-the-wings-jessie-james.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- ^ Jessie James dating Erick Decker; Logan Morrison's LoMoHawk: Hot Clicks – SI.com – Extra Mustard. Sportsillustrated.cnn.com (2011-09-22). Retrieved on 2011-10-14.
- ^ "Jessie James Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/jessie-james/chart-history/1088583?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- ^ "Jessie James Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/jessie-james/chart-history/1088583?f=379&g=Singles. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- ^ "Jessie James Album & Song Chart History – Pop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/jessie-james/chart-history/1088583?f=381&g=Singles. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- ^ "Jessie James Album & Song Chart History – Dance/Club Play Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/jessie-james/chart-history/1088583?f=359&g=Singles. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- ^ "Jessie James Music News & Info". Billboard (magazine). http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/jessie-james/1088583. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
- ^ "Jessie James – Wanted – Music Charts". acharts.us. http://acharts.us/song/43403. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
- ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum – January 4, 2011: Jessie James certified singles". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Jessie%20James&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "Music Video News: SHOT: Jessie James – Travis Kopach, director". Video Static. 2009-04-01. http://www.videostatic.com/vs/2009/04/shot-jessie-james-travis-kopach-director.html. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- ^ "Music Video News: SHOT: Jessie James – Chris Baldwin, director". Video Static. 2009-08-14. http://www.videostatic.com/vs/2009/08/shot-jessie-james-chris-baldwin-director.html. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- ^ "Music Video News: SHOT: Jessie James – Colin Tilley, director". Video Static. 2009-09-21. http://www.videostatic.com/vs/2009/09/shot-jessie-james-colin-tilley-director.html. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- ^ "Music Video News: BOOKED: Jessie James – Roman White, dir". Video Static. 2010-05-17. http://www.videostatic.com/vs/2010/05/booked-jessie-james-roman-white-dir.html. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- ^ "Dear John" music video at Vevo. Vevo.com (2010-09-15). Retrieved on 2011-10-14.
External links
Categories:- 1988 births
- American country singer-songwriters
- American people of Greek descent
- American people of Italian descent
- American pop singers
- American female singers
- Living people
- Mercury Records artists
- Military brats
- People from Warner Robins, Georgia
- Show Dog-Universal Music artists
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