Biography

Country singer and songwriter Pat James is humble about his talent and proud of his heritage. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, he grew up in with an appreciation for the land, its people and the country western music that is an integral part of the cowboy culture.
Refreshingly different from the montage of “pop” singers dominating the country music scene today, Pat James remains true to the origins of the genre. His rich vocal style and skillful guitar playing has thrilled audiences in Phoenix and beyond.

Pat James has been featured on various TV Shows, including Good Morning Arizona, and has opened for such acts as Mel McDaniel & Asleep At The Wheel. Other performers have joined Pat on stage from time to time, including Lou Rawls and members of The Sons of the San Joaquin.
On an unexpected visit shortly before his death, even Waylon himself could not help but smile and nod his approval at Pat’s rendition of “Good Hearted Woman.”

Out of state performances include shows in Fort Worth, Texas at the famed White Elephant Saloon, at the Coors Cowboy Roundup Rodeo Ranch & at Grahams Central Station in Amarillo, Texas, and at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Pat has been the headliner of many country music festivals in Europe and also performed at the Planet Hollywood in Paris, France.

Pat released two CDs, "Some Like it Country" and “It’s My Life”, both recorded and mixed at Chaton Studio in Phoenix by Otto D’Agnolo, Emmy award winning producer/engineer.

Pat has been voted The Best Country & Western Saloon Vocalist by the True West Magazine staff and readers in the “2003 Best of the West” special issue. "The Rep's Best", the Arizona Republic annual guide to the best in Arizona, has voted Pat James and his band "The 2005 Best Country Band". Indie-Music.com’s editors selected Pat as one of the “Best of 2006 – Top 25 Artists”.

Bob Thiele, music supervisor of the "Sons of Anarchy" TV series, selected 3 of Pat’s original songs - Just Fillin’In, Let Me Live Long Enough and City Lights - to be featured in the December 2009 season’s finale of this top-rated drama series on the cable network FX.

Pat also performed at the 2010 and 2011 Cowgirls with Heart Rodeo Dance in Tucson, AZ, and at the 2011 Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo Dance.

Recently, Pat had the honor of singing the National Anthem at the Cave Creek Pro Rodeo 2016.


Some Reviews :

(about "It's my Life" CD) :"...Great vocals are nothing without the right musicians and a top-notch engineering and production job, and you've got 'em all! Congratulations on some outstanding recordings......very, very impressive and well done. And you cover it all from hard country to western swing and a great rendition of 'Something'. Looks like ya like Marty Robbins and he'd be proud to hear you doing his songs justice.. I pride myself in only playing the cream of the crop, and am pleased to include you in that grouping..."
(about "Some Like it Country" CD) :"...Just listened to it and it is absolutely awesome!!!! One of the best CDs I've heard in a long time. All great tracks....real country....and some terrific songs from your pen. Congratulations on a truly great CD....it's one of those that I could just put on the air and let it play right on thru. I love it! You have some marvelous vocal cords!..."
By Tom Wardle, WDVR FM.

"...You'll find Pat's music to be a little bit different, in a good way, than what you normally hear in the country music venues nowadays. It's a little cleaner and a bit more a throwback to the style and feel of what we listened to in perhaps a more down to earth time in the progression of my favorite style of music. Pat really captures the essence of what the classic country sound is...but somehow is able to keep it contemporary. I like that!"
By Jack Friday, Friday Vision.

"...If anyone ever asks me again what country music is, this is it. This is country ... hard boiled, Texas styled country music ...This is country in the tradition of Haggard and Price, of a time long gone, traditional ... and the man knows from where he comes ... exquisite!...
By Chris K., Consensus Music Reviews.

"...I've finally found a young country singer from outside of my home state of Texas that is a HOSS ! I can now excitedly add Pat James to today's list of shufflemasters...Pat is right up there with them in vocal ability and musical selection. It's like finding a treasure you didn't know existed..."
By Michael Ray, Country Shufflemania Radio.

"The second CD by this Phoenix based country crooner transports you back to the days when dusty western honky tonk music stubbornly thumbed its nose at corporate Nashville. What happened in the 70s has the same effect today in Pat's talented hands. Pat's Elvis tinged but wonderfully rustic voice jerks tears from your eyes in "Farewell Party" while "I'm Gonna Be A Cowboy" will have you s**t kickin' all night."
By Mark Waterbury, Music Morsel.

"...Nothing can hold back or pull the plug on a talent such as Pat's... it's a force bigger than the "suits" who decide who will or won't be a "Star". Pat is already a star in his own right. You only need to listen to his music to understand that..." By Marlene Slater, MKOC.