James Otto
Encyclopedia
James Allen Otto is an American country music
artist who is a member of the MuzikMafia
, a group of country musicians known for their "country music without prejudice". Otto began his career on Mercury Nashville Records in 2002, charting three minor singles on the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
charts and recording his debut album Days of Our Lives for the label before being dropped in 2004.
In late 2007, he signed to Warner Bros. Records
. His second album, Sunset Man
, was released in April 2008. It was produced by John Rich
(of Big & Rich
) and Jay DeMarcus
(of Rascal Flatts
), the latter of whom is Otto's brother-in-law. The lead-off single to Sunset Man, "Just Got Started Lovin' You
", became Otto's first Number One hit, as well as the Number One country single of 2008 according to Billboard
.
Army Base in the state of Washington. He first took up singing at age two and later learned to play violin
and saxophone
. However, he wanted to learn to play guitar
as well, and at age thirteen, he received a guitar for his birthday.
He traveled throughout the country for most of his childhood, but his family finally settled in the small town of Benton City, Washington
. After graduating from Kiona-Benton High School, Otto joined the United States Navy
, where he served for two years. In 1998, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee
, and began attending songwriters' nights there; three years later, he joined the MuzikMafia
, a group of country music songwriters which includes Big & Rich
and Gretchen Wilson
.
Otto married Amy Alderson in October 2005. Amy gave birth to their first child, Ava Katherine, who weighed 8 lbs. 2oz. on August 24, 2010.
country charts, while a second single, "Long Way Down", failed to chart at all. Due to the poor chart performance of these singles, Otto's debut album was delayed. "Days of Our Lives", his third release for the label, was released in late 2003, peaking at #33 on the country charts. Shortly after the song peaked, his debut album (also entitled Days of Our Lives) was released on Mercury, and in 2004, Otto was signed as an opening act for Shania Twain
on her Up! Tour
. His fourth single for Mercury, "Sunday Morning and Saturday Night", peaked at #58. After the song fell from the charts, Otto exited Mercury's roster. From there, he began working with the MuzikMafia
, a gathering of singer-songwriters founded by Big & Rich
, Gretchen Wilson
and Cowboy Troy
. Otto co-wrote songs and sang background vocals on two of Cowboy Troy's albums: Loco Motive
and Black in the Saddle
, released in 2005 and early 2007, respectively.
Nashville. His first single for the label, "Just Got Started Lovin' You
", was released at the end of that year as the lead-off single to his second album, Sunset Man
. The album was co-produced by Otto's brother-in-law, Jay DeMarcus
of Rascal Flatts
, along with Big & Rich's John Rich
. Sunset Man peaked at #2 on Top Country Albums upon its April release. "Just Got Started Lovin' You" reached Number One on the Hot Country Songs charts a month later, becoming the highest-charting single of his career as well as the Number One country single of 2008 according to the Billboard Year-End
charts. The album's other two singles — "For You" and "These Are the Good Ole Days" — did not perform as well on the charts, peaking at #39 and #36 in September 2008 and March 2009, respectively.
In mid-2008, Otto was commissioned to perform a new theme song for the Atlanta Braves
, entitled "The Braves Play Here," composed by Greg Barnhill and Randy Wachtler for 615 Music
. He also co-wrote Jamey Johnson
's mid-2008 single "In Color
" with Johnson and Lee Thomas Miller
. This song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song
at the 2008 Grammy Awards, and received the 2008 Academy of Country Music
award for Song of the Year, which is awarded to the songwriters.
" in early 2010. This song is the lead-off single from Otto's third album, Shake What God Gave Ya
, which is produced by Paul Worley
and was released on September 14, 2010. The album's second single, "Soldiers & Jesus", was released to country radio on September 7, 2010.
Otto also performed backing vocals on the original album cut of the song "Chicken & Biscuits", performed by country rap artist Colt Ford
on his 2010 album of the same name
. The single version, however, features Rhean Boyer of Carolina Rain
in place of Otto singing on backup.
In March 2010, Otto announced on his Twitter
that he had exited Warner Bros. Records.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist who is a member of the MuzikMafia
MuzikMafia
The MuzikMafia was an informal collection of American country music artists, founded in October 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee by Big Kenny and John Rich , along with Jon Nicholson and Cory Gierman....
, a group of country musicians known for their "country music without prejudice". Otto began his career on Mercury Nashville Records in 2002, charting three minor singles on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts and recording his debut album Days of Our Lives for the label before being dropped in 2004.
In late 2007, he signed to Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. His second album, Sunset Man
Sunset Man
Sunset Man is the second studio album from American country music singer James Otto, released April 8, 2008 on Warner Bros. Records. Otto co-produced the album with his brother-in-law, Jay DeMarcus , and John Rich . The lead-off single, "Just Got Started Lovin' You", reached Number One on the...
, was released in April 2008. It was produced by John Rich
John Rich (musician)
John Rich is an American country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist...
(of Big & Rich
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich. Both members alternate as lead vocalists and play rhythm guitar...
) and Jay DeMarcus
Jay DeMarcus
Jay DeMarcus is the bass guitarist, harmony vocalist, pianist and songwriter in the American country trio Rascal Flatts.DeMarcus was born in Columbus, Ohio...
(of Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
), the latter of whom is Otto's brother-in-law. The lead-off single to Sunset Man, "Just Got Started Lovin' You
Just Got Started Lovin' You
"Just Got Started Lovin' You" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist James Otto. It was released in July 2007 as the first single from his second album, Sunset Man. On the Hot Country Songs chart dated for May 17, 2008, the song has also become Otto's first...
", became Otto's first Number One hit, as well as the Number One country single of 2008 according to Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
.
Biography
James Otto was born on July 29, 1973 on the Fort LewisFort Lewis
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
Army Base in the state of Washington. He first took up singing at age two and later learned to play violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
. However, he wanted to learn to play guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
as well, and at age thirteen, he received a guitar for his birthday.
He traveled throughout the country for most of his childhood, but his family finally settled in the small town of Benton City, Washington
Benton City, Washington
Benton City is a city in Benton County, Washington, United States. The population was 3,038 at the 2010 census. The city is strongly associated with nearby Kiona, with which it shares a school district.-History:...
. After graduating from Kiona-Benton High School, Otto joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, where he served for two years. In 1998, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, and began attending songwriters' nights there; three years later, he joined the MuzikMafia
MuzikMafia
The MuzikMafia was an informal collection of American country music artists, founded in October 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee by Big Kenny and John Rich , along with Jon Nicholson and Cory Gierman....
, a group of country music songwriters which includes Big & Rich
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich. Both members alternate as lead vocalists and play rhythm guitar...
and Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Frances Wilson is an American country music artist. She made her debut in 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman," a number-one hit on the Billboard country charts. The song served as the lead-off single of her debut album, Here for the Party...
.
Otto married Amy Alderson in October 2005. Amy gave birth to their first child, Ava Katherine, who weighed 8 lbs. 2oz. on August 24, 2010.
Musical career
In 2002, Otto met Scott Parker of Mercury Nashville Records, who signed him to a record deal that year. His first single, "The Ball", peaked at #45 on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts, while a second single, "Long Way Down", failed to chart at all. Due to the poor chart performance of these singles, Otto's debut album was delayed. "Days of Our Lives", his third release for the label, was released in late 2003, peaking at #33 on the country charts. Shortly after the song peaked, his debut album (also entitled Days of Our Lives) was released on Mercury, and in 2004, Otto was signed as an opening act for Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
on her Up! Tour
Up! Tour
The Up! Tour is the second concert tour by Canadian singer–songwriter Shania Twain in support of her fourth studio album, Up!. The show reached North America and Europe...
. His fourth single for Mercury, "Sunday Morning and Saturday Night", peaked at #58. After the song fell from the charts, Otto exited Mercury's roster. From there, he began working with the MuzikMafia
MuzikMafia
The MuzikMafia was an informal collection of American country music artists, founded in October 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee by Big Kenny and John Rich , along with Jon Nicholson and Cory Gierman....
, a gathering of singer-songwriters founded by Big & Rich
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich. Both members alternate as lead vocalists and play rhythm guitar...
, Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Frances Wilson is an American country music artist. She made her debut in 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman," a number-one hit on the Billboard country charts. The song served as the lead-off single of her debut album, Here for the Party...
and Cowboy Troy
Cowboy Troy
Troy Lee Coleman III is an American musician, better known by his stage name Cowboy Troy, who performs country rap. He is a member of the MuzikMafia, an aggregation of country music singer-songwriters whose membership also includes Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson and James Otto...
. Otto co-wrote songs and sang background vocals on two of Cowboy Troy's albums: Loco Motive
Loco Motive
Loco Motive is an album by American country rap artist Cowboy Troy. Released in 2005 as his first album for Warner Bros. Records, it features the single "I Play Chicken with the Train", a #48 on the Hot Country Songs charts in 2005...
and Black in the Saddle
Black in the Saddle
Black in the Saddle is an album by American country rap artist Cowboy Troy. It is his second major-label album, released in 2007 on Warner Bros. Records. None of the album's singles entered the Billboard singles charts....
, released in 2005 and early 2007, respectively.
Sunset Man
By mid-2007, Otto signed to Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
Nashville. His first single for the label, "Just Got Started Lovin' You
Just Got Started Lovin' You
"Just Got Started Lovin' You" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist James Otto. It was released in July 2007 as the first single from his second album, Sunset Man. On the Hot Country Songs chart dated for May 17, 2008, the song has also become Otto's first...
", was released at the end of that year as the lead-off single to his second album, Sunset Man
Sunset Man
Sunset Man is the second studio album from American country music singer James Otto, released April 8, 2008 on Warner Bros. Records. Otto co-produced the album with his brother-in-law, Jay DeMarcus , and John Rich . The lead-off single, "Just Got Started Lovin' You", reached Number One on the...
. The album was co-produced by Otto's brother-in-law, Jay DeMarcus
Jay DeMarcus
Jay DeMarcus is the bass guitarist, harmony vocalist, pianist and songwriter in the American country trio Rascal Flatts.DeMarcus was born in Columbus, Ohio...
of Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
, along with Big & Rich's John Rich
John Rich (musician)
John Rich is an American country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist...
. Sunset Man peaked at #2 on Top Country Albums upon its April release. "Just Got Started Lovin' You" reached Number One on the Hot Country Songs charts a month later, becoming the highest-charting single of his career as well as the Number One country single of 2008 according to the Billboard Year-End
Billboard Year-End
Billboard Year-End charts are a cumulative measure of a single or album's performance in the United States, based upon the Billboard magazine charts during any given chart year. Billboard's "chart year" runs from the first week of December to the final week in November...
charts. The album's other two singles — "For You" and "These Are the Good Ole Days" — did not perform as well on the charts, peaking at #39 and #36 in September 2008 and March 2009, respectively.
In mid-2008, Otto was commissioned to perform a new theme song for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, entitled "The Braves Play Here," composed by Greg Barnhill and Randy Wachtler for 615 Music
615 Music
615 Music is a broadcast production music company based in Nashville, Tennessee. 615 Music composes television news music packages and custom image campaigns for many television networks around the world. 615 Music also operates out of Los Angeles...
. He also co-wrote Jamey Johnson
Jamey Johnson
Jamey Johnson is an American Grammy Award nominated country music artist. Signed to BNA Records in 2005, Johnson made his debut with his single "The Dollar," the title track to his 2006 album The Dollar...
's mid-2008 single "In Color
In Color (song)
"In Color" is the title of a single co-written and recorded by American country music artist Jamey Johnson. It is the first single from his second album, That Lonesome Song, which was initially released to digital retailers in 2007, and was released on August 5, 2008 on Mercury Nashville Records....
" with Johnson and Lee Thomas Miller
Lee Thomas Miller
Lee Thomas Miller is an American country music songwriter and occasional record producer. His credits include the Number One country hits "The World" and "I'm Still a Guy" for Brad Paisley and "You're Gonna Miss This" for Trace Adkins, as well as Top Ten hits for Terri Clark, Joe Nichols, and...
. This song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song
Grammy Award for Best Country Song
The Grammy Award for Best Country Song has been awarded since 1965. The award is given to the writer of the song.There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:...
at the 2008 Grammy Awards, and received the 2008 Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
award for Song of the Year, which is awarded to the songwriters.
Shake What God Gave Ya
Otto released a non-album single, "Since You Brought It Up", in April 2009. It peaked at 37 by July of the same year. The song was followed by "Groovy Little Summer SongGroovy Little Summer Song
"Groovy Little Summer Song" is the title of a country music song written by Al Anderson, Carson Chamberlain, and James Otto, and recorded by Otto as the first single from his album Shake What God Gave Ya.-Reception:...
" in early 2010. This song is the lead-off single from Otto's third album, Shake What God Gave Ya
Shake What God Gave Ya
Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it "a fully formed, seductive country-soul record" and said it "rolls smooth and easy, locking into a cool relaxed groove early on and never leaving it." Jessica Phillips with Country Weekly rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, saying Otto's "raw,...
, which is produced by Paul Worley
Paul Worley
Paul Worley is an American record producer and session guitarist, known primarily for his work in country music. Formerly a vice president at Sony BMG, he later joined the staff of Warner Bros. Records' Nashville division as chief creative officer...
and was released on September 14, 2010. The album's second single, "Soldiers & Jesus", was released to country radio on September 7, 2010.
Otto also performed backing vocals on the original album cut of the song "Chicken & Biscuits", performed by country rap artist Colt Ford
Colt Ford
Jason Farris Brown known professionally as Colt Ford, is an American country music artist and former professional golfer. He has released three albums via his own Average Joe's label, and has charted four singles on the Hot Country Songs charts...
on his 2010 album of the same name
Chicken & Biscuits
-Album:-End of year charts:-Singles:...
. The single version, however, features Rhean Boyer of Carolina Rain
Carolina Rain
Carolina Rain is an American country music group composed of Jeremy Baxter , Rhean Boyer , and Marvin Evatt . Founded in 2003, the band was signed in 2004 as the first act on Equity Music Group, an independent record label owned by country music artist Clint Black...
in place of Otto singing on backup.
In March 2010, Otto announced on his Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
that he had exited Warner Bros. Records.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
||
| Days of Our Lives |
|
61 | — |
| Sunset Man Sunset Man Sunset Man is the second studio album from American country music singer James Otto, released April 8, 2008 on Warner Bros. Records. Otto co-produced the album with his brother-in-law, Jay DeMarcus , and John Rich . The lead-off single, "Just Got Started Lovin' You", reached Number One on the... |
|
2 | 3 |
| Shake What God Gave Ya Shake What God Gave Ya Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it "a fully formed, seductive country-soul record" and said it "rolls smooth and easy, locking into a cool relaxed groove early on and never leaving it." Jessica Phillips with Country Weekly rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, saying Otto's "raw,... |
|
10 | 63 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales threshold) |
Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
||||
| 2002 | "The Ball" | 45 | — | — | Days of Our Lives | |
| 2003 | "Long Way Down" | — | — | — | ||
| "Days of Our Lives" | 33 | — | — | |||
| 2004 | "Sunday Morning and Saturday Night" | 58 | — | — | ||
| 2007 | "Just Got Started Lovin' You Just Got Started Lovin' You "Just Got Started Lovin' You" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist James Otto. It was released in July 2007 as the first single from his second album, Sunset Man. On the Hot Country Songs chart dated for May 17, 2008, the song has also become Otto's first... " |
1 | 27 | 71 |
|
Sunset Man |
| 2008 | "For You" | 39 | — | — | ||
| "These Are the Good Ole Days" | 36 | — | — | |||
| 2009 | "Since You Brought It Up" | 37 | — | — | Non-album song | |
| 2010 | "Groovy Little Summer Song Groovy Little Summer Song "Groovy Little Summer Song" is the title of a country music song written by Al Anderson, Carson Chamberlain, and James Otto, and recorded by Otto as the first single from his album Shake What God Gave Ya.-Reception:... " |
26 | — | — | Shake What God Gave Ya | |
| "Soldiers & Jesus" | 34 | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Just Got Started Lovin' You" | Ryan Smith |
| "For You" | Kristin Barlowe/Jack Roberts | |
| 2009 | "These Are the Good Ole Days" | Ryan Smith |
| 2010 | "Groovy Little Summer Song" | David McClister |