Dean James

Dean James brings a soulful rasp and a rock singer’s force to country rooted in honky-tonk. The Ontario singer draws on ’90s country and southern rock. “Take My Time On You” shows the whiskey-loving mischief in his singing; “Burned It Down” brings out the heartbreak. James began performing at three alongside his grandfather, multi-instrumentalist Doug Montgomery, in the Peterborough area. In 2015, he moved to Nashville and spent a year playing on Broadway. Years of taking requests and playing across Canada have broadened his repertoire, earning him a reputation as a bit of a country music jukebox. He has supported Meghan Patrick and The Road Hammers. Singing other people’s songs pushed James toward original material. He returned to Nashville to write and record.