James Dean Hicks

With 6 number one songs to his credit, James Dean Hicks has written songs for many diverse artists, including Jessica Simpson "Sweet Kisses," Blake Shelton "Goodbye Time," Kenny Chesney "Grandpa Told Me So," Jon McLaughlin "Until You Got Love" and Jack Savoretti "Lovely Fool" and has had over 150 songs recorded by artists like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Charlie Daniels, Aaron Carter, Reba, Wynonna, Vince Gill and Aaron Neville. James recently had a huge hit as an artist in his own right with a number 1 video in Australia on a duet with Natalie Howard ("The Long Night").

At the age of 10, as a country music artist, James Dean Hicks began making the trip from his home on a farm near Bardstown, Kentucky, to the big-city streets of Nashville. There he appeared regularly on the "WSM Midnight Jamboree" with the Grand Ole Opry greats, including Ernest Tubb and Hank Snow. By the time he was 13, James had opened concerts for Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, George Jones and Tammy Wynette.

Two of James' compositions, "It Takes a Little Rain (To Make Love Grow)" and "This Crazy Love" became Number 1 hits for the Oak Ridge Boys. Then came "Goodbye Time" for Conway Twitty, and "Jesus and Mama Always Loved Me," recorded by Confederate Railroad which became James' third Number 1 hit, followed closely by Sammy Kershaw's chart-topper "National Working Woman's Holiday."

Recently, James has new cuts by Lonestar, a duet by Reba Mcintyre and Vince Gill, a cut by Blaine Larson with Merle Haggard and a newly recorded song by Kenny Chesney. He also wrote the title cut "Sweet Kisses" for pop sensation, Jessica Simpson, as well as, "Life is a Party" by the teen heartthrob, Aaron Carter. As an artist, he has two critically acclaimed CD's.

The list of artists who have recorded James Dean Hicks' songs is long. It includes Johnny Cash, Crystal Gayle, Charlie Daniels, Linda Davis, and Conway Twitty. Some of country's hottest young performers are also well-represented on that list -- John Michael Montgomery, Neal McCoy, Collin Raye, Lorrie Morgan, Bryan White, and pop superstars Aaron Neville and Tony Rich.

James performs over 230 shows each year opening for many diverse acts, from Merle Haggard to Bryan White, from the Romantics to Keith Urban. He is also busy producing several new up and coming artists.

James says, "to me, the hope of creating a classic is why I write and sing. It's the chance to create something that will out last your days on this earth. Finishing a great song is the biggest thrill of all and then to see the emotion of that song mirrored in the face of an audience brings it full circle."

Interesting Factoid :

James Dean is his real name, in fact, he has a brother named John Wayne!