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. He freelances as a wedding musician and is a member of the American Guild of Organists and a past member of the Tennessee Wedding and Events Specialists Association.

He finished his 7th year as an instructor at Belmont Academy, a division of Belmont University and moved his studio to Holy Cross. In addition to teaching and playing for church and weddings, James works full-time in the Biochemistry Department at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He and his wife of 35 years, Carol, an artist, gardener and homemaker, have two grown children--Benjamin and Rebecca--and live with their two cats and two poodles in Brentwood.