Tommy Lee James is an American country music songwriter and record producer with Still Working Music Group. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, he is originally from Roanoke, Virginia.
He graduated from Northside High School then attended Radford University, where he studied voice. He moved to Nashville with dreams of becoming an artist, but then became a full-time songwriter.
James is the writer of a number of hit songs, including Reba McEntire's "And Still", Brooks & Dunn's "A Man This Lonely", Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn's duet "If You See Him/If You See Her", Martina McBride's "Wrong Again", Cyndi Thomson's "What I Really Meant to Say", and Tim McGraw's "She's My Kind of Rain". All these songs went to number one on the charts.
James had an additional chart topping success with "I Wish" recorded by Jo Dee Messina and "Let's Be Us Again" recorded by Lonestar which was a top 4 hit. He also co-wrote the critically acclaimed single by Gary Allan entitled "Life Ain't Always Beautiful".
James has had many other cuts with artists such as Cliff Richard, 98 Degrees, Pam Tillis, Blue County, Emerson Drive, Jedd Hughes, Little Big Town, Delta Goodrem, and Pussycat Dolls.
In addition to being a writer, James also produced albums for Capitol Records recording artists Cyndi Thomson, Susan Ashton and Emily West, Big Machine artist Danielle Peck, and former Lonestar vocalist Richie McDonald.
James' success continues in 2012 with Joe Walsh's new album, Analog Man, which was released on June 5, 2012 (co-produced by Jeff Lynne), and One Direction's new record, Take Me Home.
Writing credits
Year Artist Song Album1993Conway Twitty"I Don't Love You"Final Touches 1995Reba McEntire"And Still"Read My MindJoe Diffie"She Loves Me"Life's So Funny1996Reba McEntire"It Don't Matter"What If It's YouBrooks & Dunn"A Man This Lonely"Borderline1998Martina McBride"Wrong Again"EvolutionPam Tillis"Every Time"Every TimeBrooks & Dunn/Reba McEntire"If You See Him/If You See Her"If You See Him (McEntire) If You See Her (Brooks & Dunn)200098 Degrees"The Way You Do"Revelation2001Cyndi Thomson"What I Really Meant to Say"My World2003Tim McGraw"She's My Kind of Rain"Tim McGraw and the Dancehall DoctorsJo Dee Messina"I Wish"Greatest Hits2004Lonestar"Let's Be Us Again"Let's Be Us AgainLee Ann Womack"Time For Me To Go"Greatest Hits2006Gary Allan"Life Ain't Always Beautiful"Tough All OverDanielle Peck"Isn't That Everything"Danielle Peck2007Delta Goodrem"Believe Again"Delta"In This Life""You Will Only Break My Heart""One Day""Angels in the Room"Trisha Yearwood"This Is Me You're Talking To"Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love"Nothin' 'Bout Memphis"Martina McBride"Tryin' to Find a Reason"Waking Up LaughingLuna Halo"Untouchable"Luna Halo2009Emerson Drive"I Love This Road"BelieveOrianthi"God Only Knows"BelieveGary Allan"Today"Get Off on the Pain2010Jessica Harp"Letting Go"A Woman Needs2011Ronnie Dunn"Bleed Red"Ronnie DunnPixie Lott"All About Tonight"Young Foolish Happy2012Joe Walsh"Wrecking Ball"Analog Man"And the Band Played On""Family""Lucky That Way"Easton Corbin"Are You with Me"All Over the RoadOne Direction"They Don't Know About Us"Take Me Home"Loved You First"Jennette McCurdy"Better"Jennette McCurdyCeline Dion"Didn't Know Love"Water and a Flame2013Lonestar"Pretty Good Day"Life As We Know It2014Lost Frequencies"Are You With Me"Are You With MeBlake Shelton"My Eyes"Based on a True Story...The Swon Brothers"Pray For You"The Swon BrothersWill Hoge"Just Up The Road"Small Town DreamsWill Hoge"Middle Of America"Small Town DreamsWill Hoge"Growing Up Around Here"Small Town DreamsChase Bryant"Take It On Back"Chase BryantBlake Shelton"Good Country Song"Bringing Back the SunshineTim Hicks"She Don't Drink Whiskey Anymore"5:012015Reba McEntire"Just Like Them Horses"Love SomebodyReba McEntire"Livin' Ain't Killed Me Yet"Love SomebodyReba McEntire"I'll Go On"Love SomebodyEaston Corbin"Are You With Me"About to Get Real2016Ronnie Dunn"Still Feels Like Mexico"Tattooed HeartDrake White"Story"Spark2017Robin Schulz"Tonight and Every Night"UncoveredTrace Adkins"Gonna Make You Miss Me"Something's Going OnKenny Chesney"All The Pretty Girls"Cosmic Hallelujah2018Deepend"Only Love"Tocadisco"New World"New World (EP)Oliver Moldan"Dope"Dope (EP)Oliver Moldan"Forgettable"Dope (EP)Nick Martin feat. Carly Paige"Cool Love"Cool Love (EP)2019Reba McEntire"In His Mind"Stronger Than the TruthStafford Brothers"Wolf"SingleOliver Heldens feat. Nile Rodgers & Devin"Summer Lover"SinglePlastik Funk & Alle Farben"Find Your Way"SingleRichard Judge"Miss America"SingleAlle Farben"What Was I Drinking"Sticker on My SuitcaseMr. Belt & Wezol"Not Dancing"Single3lau"Miss Me More"SingleMahama feat. Jason Walker"Never Ending"SingleJustin Caruso feat. Wyn Starks"Can't Live Without It"SingleRobin Schulz featuring Harlœ"All This Love"IIII2020Kyd the Band"Go There"SingleMika Setzer"Happy for Ya"SingleBlake Shelton & Gwen Stefani"Nobody but You"Fully Loaded: God's Country 2021Taylor Swift"Untouchable (Taylor's Version)"Fearless (Taylor's Version) "Don't You" 2024Teddy Swims You Still Get To MeI've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1.5)
References
External links Interview with Tommy Lee James Apple Music Playlist Music Row BMI - She's My Kind Of Rain BMI - My Eyes