James Younger “I’m Leaving The Past Behind”

I was born in Harlingen, Texas July 1st, 1946. I signed my first recording contract when I was 19 years old with Colombia Records as part of the Playboys of Edinburg in 1966. We had a # 1 record in Texas Look At Me Girl that I wrote. It was covered by Bobby Vee and was a hit for him Nationally. We had 2 more singles released on Colombia Dream World, that I wrote and Mickeys Monkey.

In 1968 we signed with Capitol Records and released 2 singles I wrote Let’s Get Back To Rock And Roll and Suzy Walker. Let’s Get Back To Rock And Roll was recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis in 1973. In 1971 we signed with UNI Records as POE and released an Album UP Through The Spiral. I wrote 9 of the 14 songs on the Album.

In 1973 I moved to Houston, Texas as a single artist. My brother Michael joined me and we became James & Michael. We released one of my songs When I Think of You on London Records. Later that year, it was covered by pop artist Leif Garrett. It was a single for him and a hit worldwide. It was on a Gold Album for him.

In 1982 we became a country act James & Michael Younger and signed with MCA Records. We had 6 singles from our MCA album. One single Nothing But The Radio On reached # 19 on Billboard and R& R and Cashbox and sent us on tour with label mate George Strait along with many other well-known acts for the next 2 years. In 1994 we moved, along with our band to Nashville, TN. In 1996 we released a single that I wrote, In South Texas on Permian Records. It was used as a theme song for the TV show Fishing In Texas. Other artists who have cut my songs are John Conlee and TG Sheppard along with many indie artists.

In 1988 I stopped performing and started my own company Williams Productions & Promotions, Inc., still in Nashville. I produce artists as well as promote their songs on the radio. I have won numerous songwriter, producer, and promoter awards over the years along with Promoter Of The Year for 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2014 for New Music Weekly Awards.

I have promoted many Indy artists as well as Jeff Cook from Alabama, Ray Stevens, John Conley, T G Shepard, Burns & Poe, and too many to remember over the last 20 years.