The Community News
Your Parker County
2011-2012
35
FOR THE LOVE OF IT ◗ Casey James loves
the guitar – and it shows By Katie Martinez and Randy Keck The Community News
Casey James put Cool, Texas on the map in a big way, and what better hometown for a music star? The singer/songwriter has come a long way from his garage band days after gaining national publicity finishing in the final three on season nine of “American Idol,” which led to a Fort Worth parade in James’ honor sponsored. He has spent the last year on tour, first with “American Idol Live” and then a series of shows with Sugarland. He performed at the after-party of the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas and the 2011 Country Music Awards Fest in Nashville. In August of 2010, James signed a recording contract with Sony Music Nashville and his debut single, “Let’s Don’t Call it a Night” sold 5,000 copies in the first week of its release in August of 2011. His album, which James largely wrote himself, was scheduled to be released in late 2011, and he describes it as blues/ rock/country, true to his style. It’s been a whirlwind of lights, tours, interviews and screaming fans, and the best part of it all, he said, is that he is living a dream come true. Playing music is his passion, and always has been. Even before he could talk, James’ mother said he was humming tunes. Now his hard work and dedication are paying off, but it almost didn’t happen. In 2004, James was taking his new motorcycle out for a spin when he was hit by another vehicle driving in excess of 75 miles per hour. The crash broke his thigh bone in four places and shattered his left wrist.
James was in a wheelchair for six months after doctors inserted a titanium rod in his leg. He endured months of painful rehabilitation therapy, but the biggest blow of all came when doctors told the family that James’ injuries to his wrist were so severe that he would never be able to play the guitar again. James never accepted defeat, and he would not give up on his passion.
“You just do it – you make a way” - Casey James Over a long process of rehabilitation, James worked his hand and pushed himself to form chords. In the beginning he could only endure a few minutes because the pain was so excruciating. His mother would massage the muscles in his hand and he would try again, and again and again. He performed in July, 2011 at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, and it was there he shed some light on his music career to The Community News. To say he was born with a guitar in is hand may be stretching the truth, but he was at least familiar with the instrument not long after. “Looking back now I find pictures of myself when I was a baby holding a guitar, so I didn’t realize I started at that young an age. Me and my mom used to sing Christmas tunes for the whole family for years and years. I guess about 13 or 14, I picked up an acoustic and started learning chords and went from there,” James said. Turn to JAMES, page 36