Marty James

James grew up in Dixon, CA but moved to Chico, CA with his father.{{Cite web|url=https://independentvoice.com/local-life/grammy-nominee-marty-garton-has-roots-in-dixon/|title=Grammy Nominee Marty Garton has Roots in Dixon|last=Staff|date=April 15, 2018|website=Independent Voice}} By 13, James was performing at local talent shows and making his own demos on equipment he purchased himself. He began submitting the demos to labels and producers in the Bay Area and Los Angeles when he was 16.

During high school, James was discovered by Johnny Zunino of N2Deep. After his two previous groups disbanded, James and Zunino started Scapegoat Wax.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aversionline.com/view/marty-james-should-be-a-household-name|title=Marty James Should be a Household Name|last=Westerhouse|first=Andrew|date=November 17, 2014|website=Aversion Online}} The band originally signed to Good Vibe Recordings in 1999 for their first album, Luxurious. In 2000 they moved to the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal Label, and James worked with Mike D on the band's second album, Okeeblow.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chicoer.com/article/NA/20171213/NEWS/171219900|title=Grammy-Nominated Songwriter, Producer has Chico Roots|last=Scharaga|first=Ashiah|date=December 13, 2017|website=Chico Enterprise-Record}} When Grand Royal closed, the band went to Hollywood Records and released SWAX in 2002. The band gained critical acclaim with the media, but failed to establish commercial success. The band was best known for their single "Aisle 10 (Hello Allison)", which reached moderate success in the US and was part of the Xbox video game Jet Set Radio Future{{cite video game|title=Jet Set Radio Future|developer=Smilebit|publisher=Sega|date=February 25, 2002|platform=Xbox|level=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OX0VHT80Fk Credits]}} as well as being on the soundtrack for Project Gotham Racing. They also released other singles which were used in motion picture soundtracks and television shows, such as Clockstoppers, America's Sweethearts and 40 Days and 40 Nights, the episode "Company Picnic: Part 2" of Malcolm in the Middle and the unaired pilot of Wonderfalls.

In 2004, James started One Block Radius with Mr. Dope America, who toured with Scapegoat Wax, and San Francisco emcee Z Man.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2005_12_longstory.html|title=One Block Radius: Long Story Short|last=Jost|first=Matt|date=December 20, 2005|website=Rap Reviews}} They signed to Los Angeles independent label Avatar Records in 2005 and released the album Long Story Short, which James wrote, produced, and mixed. During that time, James was also featured as a guest vocalist on songs by Snoop Dogg, Baby Bash, Paul Wall, The Federation, E-40, and others.

Since 2010, James has focused on songwriting and producing music for others. He has written songs with and for Jason Derulo, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Snoop Dogg, Christina Aguilera, Timbaland, Afrojack, Nelly, Akon, Wiz Khalifa, Sean Kingston, Ty Dolla $ign, Nicky Jam, Will Smith, and G-Eazy. In 2016, James co-wrote "Don't You Need Somebody" for RedOne. The same year, Luis Fonsi and Erika Ender brought James on to help with remixing their Spanish-language song "Despacito," featuring Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee.{{Cite web|url=http://kisselpaso.com/despacito-songwriter-chats-with-joey-c-about-the-success-of-the-1-hit-song/|title=Despacito Remix: Luis Fonsi|last=C.|first=Joey|date=September 8, 2017|website=Kiss El Paso}} James, whose mother's family is of Mexican heritage,{{Cite web|url=http://toofab.com/2017/09/08/despacito-donald-trump-justin-bieber-daddy-yankee-luis-fonsi-daca-immigrants-racism-hispanic-latin-culture-marty-james/|title='Despacito' Co-Writer Says Hit Proves Trump Is 'Small Minded,' 'Hispanic Culture Not Going Anywhere|last=Staff|date=September 8, 2017|website=TooFab.com}} has written songs for Latin artists. The English language remix that James worked on was intended to expand the appeal of the original song which had already been a success. Justin Bieber was brought on to sing on the remix.

"Despacito" was released in April 2017 and received international attention, topping charts in 47 countries. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-tying 16 weeks and topped the Latin 100 for a record-breaking 52 weeks. The song was nominated for three Grammys in 2018: Best Song, Best Record, and Best Pop-Duo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/8096569/grammys-2018-winners-list|title=Grammys 2018 Winners: The Complete List|last=Atkinson|first=Katie|date=January 28, 2018|website=Billboard}} The song won the Best Urban Fusion/Performance award at the 2018 Latin Grammys.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/17/entertainment/latin-grammys-2017-winners/index.html|title=Latin Grammys 2017: The Winners|last=France|first=Lisa Respers|date=November 17, 2017|website=CNN}} The song was also nominated for and won awards at the American Music Awards,{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/chica/american-music-awards-2017-despacito-wins/|title=Record Breaking Despacito Wins Two Awards at AMA|last=Diaz|first=Thathiana|date=November 20, 2017|website=People}} Billboard Music Awards,{{Cite web|url=https://entertainmentflow.com/2018/05/22/despacito-is-latin-song-with-most-billboard-music-awards/|title='Despacito' is Latin Song with Most Billboard Music Awards|last=Staff|date=May 22, 2018|website=Entertainment Flow}} and Billboard Latin Music Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2018/04/27/Despacito-wins-big-at-2018-Latin-Billboard-Awards/7881524803992/|title='Despacito' Wins Big at 2018 Latin Billboard Awards|last=Downs|first=Ray|date=April 27, 2018|website=UPI.com}}

James became part of the producer management division of The Core Entertainment in 2023. The same year he wrote the song "Religiously" for country musician Bailey Zimmerman. The song peaked at No.1 on the Canada Country Billboard Chart and US Country Airplay,{{cite web |title=Bailey Zimmerman |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bailey-zimmerman/chart-history/ccw/ |website=Billboard}} as well as receiving an ARIA Gold certification.{{cite certification|region=Australia|certyear=2023|access-date=November 23, 2023}}

{{main|Scapegoat Wax#Discography}}

• Luxurious (1999)
• Okeeblow (2001)
• SWAX (2002)
• Atomic Slam (2022)

{{main|One Block Radius#Discography}}

• Long Story Short 2005
• One Block Radius 2008

{{awards table}}

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|rowspan="3"|2018

|rowspan="3"|"Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber)

|Song of the Year

|{{nom}}

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|Record of the Year

|{{nom}}

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|Best Pop Duo

|{{nom}}

|}

{{awards table}}

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|rowspan="1"|2017

|rowspan="1"|"Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber)

|Best Urban Fusion/Performance

|{{won}}

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|}

{{awards table}}

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|rowspan="2"|2017

|rowspan="2"|"Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber)

|Collaboration of the Year

|{{won}}

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|Favorite Pop/Rock Song

|{{won}}

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|}

{{awards table}}

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|rowspan="6"|2018

|rowspan="6"|"Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber)

|Top 100 Song

|{{won}}

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|Top Selling Song

|{{won}}

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|Top Streaming Song (Audio)

|{{nom}}

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|Top Streaming Song (Video)

|{{won}}

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|Top Collaboration

|{{won}}

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|Top Latin Song

|{{won}}

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|}

{{awards table}}

|-

|rowspan="6"|2018

|rowspan="6"|"Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber)

|Hot Latin Song of the Year

|{{won}}

|-

|Hot Latin Song of the Year

|{{won}}

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|Airplay Song of the Year

|{{won}}

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|Digital Song of the Year

|{{won}}

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|Streaming Song of the Year

|{{won}}

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|Latin Pop Song of the Year

|{{won}}

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|}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.martyjames.com/}}
• {{Discogs artist|Marty James}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Marty}}

Category:American male singer-songwriters

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)