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Dean James brings a soulful rasp and a rock singer’s force to country rooted in honky-tonk. The Ontario singer draws on ’90s country and southern rock, moving between the whiskey-loving mischief of “Take My Time On You” and the heartbreak of “Burned It Down.” He names Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Chris Stapleton and Brothers Osborne among his influences.

James began performing at three alongside his grandfather, multi-instrumentalist Doug Montgomery, in the Peterborough area. He started with a plastic guitar at local jamborees before moving to a real instrument; legions also gave him places to play. In 2015, James moved to Nashville and spent a year playing on Broadway.

Years of taking requests and playing across Canada have broadened his repertoire, earning him a reputation as a bit of a country music jukebox. His live work includes brewery tours and support appearances for Meghan Patrick and The Road Hammers.

Singing other people’s songs pushed James toward original material. He returned to Nashville to write and record.