Key West is his soulful wild sister
James Slater – Key West is his soulful wild sister
James Slater was born in Durham, North Carolina. His father was employed at Duke University. His mother, who is Bolivian/British, wanted to move to some place warm. They moved to Miami, FL for a year and then to the Panama Canal Zone where lived from age 8 to 18 years old. He became fluent in Spanish. His mother, who was a fantastic singer, insisted he study piano. Around age 14, James wanted to quit music but his mother insisted he continue piano lessons.
James Slater during a gig at Two Friends in 2019.
After the Canal Zone was returned to Panama, the family moved back to the United States and settled in Miami. James studied jazz graduating from the University of Miami in 1981. He performed with groups in Coconut Grove while attending classes.
His career took off when at 20 years old, he wrote a Christmas song titled “All I Want From Santa (Is a Girl From Atlanta)”. He recorded it in Nashville and flew to Atlanta for the promotion with the Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders. Next, it was off to Los Angeles in 1989 to continue writing songs. James got a job playing old jazz standards five days a week at Carroll O’Conner’s Restaurant in Beverly Hills.
He stayed in LA for four years and then went to Europe with a Belgian music group, Vaya Con Dios, for seven years. While in Europe, he was invited to tour Cuba with a group of famous musicians called “Bridge to Havana”. He toured with Bonnie Raitt, Mick Fleetwood, Burt Bacharach, Gladys Knight, Woody Harrelson, and many others. This was in 1999, shortly after the famous release of the Buena Vista Social Club album, while Cuba was coming out of its long “special period” following the collapse of the Soviet Union. James also met Fidel Castro while in Cuba.
In 2002, James returned to the U.S., living in Nashville and writing songs. He quickly wrote a beautiful song, “In My Daughter’s Eyes” which was recorded by Martina McBride and was nominated for a Grammy in 2006. Five years later, he was nominated again with Jamey Johnson for “High Cost of Living”. Slater has had songs recorded by various artists such as Tim McGraw, Chris Young, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson and others.
Also in 2002, James was invited to the Key West Songwriters Festival and loved it. He continued to return every year and, in 2007, he wrote the song “Give Me A Key West Address”. Key West Mayor McPherson loved it and gave him an award from his adopted city. James Slater returns often and says his heart is in Nashville but his soul is in Key West. To James, Key West has Latin and tropical influence reminding him of his childhood in Panama.
According to James, there’s a Key West writers’ legacy of Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Shel Silverstein, Jimmy Buffett along with a constant influx of famous vacationers like Leonard Bernstein.
James Slater performing in the Key West Theater in 2024.
Many others frequent our shores because of the great inspirational character of Key West for songwriters. The annual gathering at the Key West Songwriters Festival is an outgrowth of this legacy. Songwriters from around the world come to Key West to celebrate.
For every songwriter in Nashville that is successful, there are 200 or more that struggle. There is a constant turnover of musicians as well, all reaching for the stars. Those that make it have grounded it out, spending long hours working hard and improving their craft.
James recorded his last album at Shrimpboat Sound in 2023 on Billy Joel’s beautiful Yamaha piano, for four days. The album is titled Famous in Key West (Shrimp Boat Sessions).
His latest album was recorded at Shrimpboat Sound.
He also wrote the song “Guys Named Captain” for Kenny Chesney. It was inspired by Captain Tony, Captain Outrageous, and especially his mandolin playing father who loved sailing the ocean.
On December 23, Slater will be performing a concert at Williams Hall. He will be celebrating the music of Steve Cropper, Bret James, Todd Snyder, and Raul Malo – all songwriters/entertainers that have recently passed away. Raul Malo was a very good friend who shared the stage with James at the Southernmost House at last year’s Songwriters Festival.
James Slater, his mother, and Kenny Chesney together in Key West
James will also play “Christmas Around the World”, a song he wrote and was recorded by Sabrina Carpenter. He wants to honor his mother who passed away last year. She wouldn’t let him quit piano lessons. She was also a singer and had performed with James at the San Carlos several times. It will be dedicated to all the mothers who insist their children study music.
To James, the older he gets, the more he appreciates the Key West music scene. He says “It’s organic, it’s real, it’s heartfelt, salt of the earth, salt of the ocean, songwriting from the heart.” Key West has soul. There are songs in the air down here, the inspiration comes from Shel Silverstein, Jimmy Buffett, and all the great writers that have lived in Key West. He says “Nashville is his practical brother and Key West is his soulful wild sister.”
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