bio of    James Austin

James Austin…singer, songwriter, storyteller, is a product of the 60’s New York folk scene who, after 4 years in the US Marine Corps, found himself playing folk and folk/rock music in clubs up and down the California coast. Some years later, James moved back to New York and formed The South Street Mission Band, an alt. country band whose vocal harmonies and use of a mandolin as a lead instrument captivated audiences all around the Northeast.

After the breakup of SSMB, James moved to the Texas Hillcountry and fell in with several of the great Texas songwriters in the area, and his songwriting started taking on a distinct Texas influence. Ten years later James was back on the West Coast performing his brand of Texas influenced “country folk”, but continually returned to Texas for recording sessions.

James Austin now lives in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains where he has self produced two solo CDs, Love, Hate And Other Nonsense and Rounders & Rogues. He is currently working on a third solo project to be titled Next Stop…Austinville.

Among his musical heroes that he has had the privilege of sharing a stage with are Jackson Browne, Hoyt Axton, Floyd Tillman, Hank Thompson, Ray Price, Steve Goodman, John Prine, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, among others.

James’ song  “Christmas 911” has been released on two different holiday compilation albums, and his song “Johnny Won’t Be Marchin’ Home Again” can be heard on WLVRs’ Morning Roll Call Sampler.

The Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival
      P.O. Box 753
   Gatlinburg TN  37738

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