A native of Rochester, New York, James began piano lessons at age 5, first with his mother and then at several prominent studios including the Eastman School of Music. Following high school, he entered SUNY Fredonia as an organ major, later transferring to Stetson University in Deland, Florida. While raising a young family, he briefly attended Peabody Teachers College in Nashville as a music education major, followed by a tour of duty in the Navy as a Journalist Seaman. Upon discharge, James spent 7 years in radio broadcasting, most of them as a classical announcer & producer at WPLN-FM. In 1985, he completed a bachelor's degree in church music (cum laude) from Belmont College, and a few years later returned for graduate work with an emphasis in K-6 methodology. A master's in music education was conferred in 1991 from Belmont University.

James has worked for churches of every major denomination and currently holds the post of organist at Holy Cross Anglican Church in Franklin, where he also maintains a piano studio of 20 students. He freelances as a wedding musician and is a member of the American Guild of Organists. With piper Greg Cutcliff, he plays Scottish weddings in the middle Tennessee region.

 James and his wife of 36 years, Carol, an artist, gardener and homemaker, live with their two cats and poodle in Brentwood, and have two grown children -- Benjamin and Rebecca.