James Slater is a piano-playing, bilingual singer-songwriter of Bolivian American descent. Born in Durham, North Carolina to a mandolin loving psychiatrist and a Spanish speaking mother, he was raised in the tropics of the Panama Canal Zone in Central America.
After high school James returned to the USA and graduated from Florida's distinguished University of Miami School of music, after a brief move to Los Angeles he found himself living in Europe, Zurich Switzerland for six years touring, recording and writing. He wrote "Don't Break My Heart," for Belgian super group Vaya Con Dios, and then signed a solo contract with BMG, Switzerland, and penned the hit "Poco a Poco." He has traveled the world from Panama to Dublin, from Spain to Havana.
James and his grand piano now live in Nashville, Tennessee. He is signed to Byron Gallimore's Song Garden/State One publishing company and his songs have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Lorrie Morgan, Jessica Andrews, Mark Wills, Shemekia Copeland, Billy Gilman among others. Martina's recording of "In My Daughter's Eyes" has become a modern day standard garnering James a BMI country award as well as a BMI pop award in 2006 in Los Angeles. "In My Daughter's Eyes" was nominated for a Grammy for best vocal performance.
New releases include Rascal Flatts title track, Unstoppable as well as The High Cost Of Living, off Jamey Johnson's grammy nominated new album as well as John Michael Montgomery's Forever and cuts by Rodney Atkins, Kelly Pickler and superstar Kenny Chesney.
James has also been featured and co-wrote the winning "The Way That I Want You", sung by Julio Iglesias Jr. on CMT's Season 1"Gone Country" reality show as well as cowriting "Glorious Train" with Sheila E on Season 3.
James's latest solo c.d. release "Key West Address" is a love letter to the island that reminds him so much of his tropical upbringing, so much so that the mayor of Key West has awarded James the "keys to the city" and proclaimed the song "Key West Address" the island's official theme.
