Marty James

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Marty James
Marty James Main Image.jpg
Marty James in December 2023
Background information
Origin Chico, California, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Songwriter, producer, performer
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboard, programming (music)
Years active2000–present
LabelsLow Post, Grand Royal, Avatar Records, Mercury, Island Def Jam, UnderByte Sound
Website Official website

Marty James Garton Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and record producer from Chico, California. He has released albums and singles as the front man and producer of Scapegoat Wax and One Block Radius and as part of the writer-producer management division of The Core Entertainment. James co-wrote the English-language remix of Luis Fonsi's Despacito, which featured Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber. The song went on to top charts in both English- and Spanish-speaking parts of the world, was nominated for three Grammys, and won numerous music awards including a Latin Grammy, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, and Billboard Latin Music Awards. He also wrote the 2023 song "Religiously" for country musician Bailey Zimmerman which peaked at No.1 on the Canada Country Billboard Chart and US Country Airplay chart.

Contents

Early life and education

James grew up in Dixon, CA but moved to Chico, CA with his father. [1] By 13, James was performing at local talent shows and making his own demos on equipment he purchased himself. He began submitting the demos to labels and producers in the Bay Area and Los Angeles when he was 16. [2]

Career

Early career

During high school, James was discovered by Johnny Zunino of N2Deep. After his two previous groups disbanded, James and Zunino started Scapegoat Wax. [3] The band originally signed to Good Vibe Recordings in 1999 for their first album, Luxurious. In 2000 they moved to the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal Label, and James worked with Mike D on the band's second album, Okeeblow. [2] When Grand Royal closed, the band went to Hollywood Records and released SWAX in 2002. The band gained critical acclaim with the media, but failed to establish commercial success. [3] The band was best known for their single "Aisle 10 (Hello Allison)", which reached moderate success in the US and was part of the Xbox video game Jet Set Radio Future [4] as well as being on the soundtrack for Project Gotham Racing . They also released other singles which were used in motion picture soundtracks and television shows, such as Clockstoppers , America's Sweethearts and 40 Days and 40 Nights , the episode "Company Picnic: Part 2" of Malcolm in the Middle and the unaired pilot of Wonderfalls . [3]

In 2004, James started One Block Radius with Mr. Dope America, who toured with Scapegoat Wax, and San Francisco emcee Z Man. [5] They signed to Los Angeles independent label Avatar Records in 2005 and released the album Long Story Short, which James wrote, produced, and mixed. [5] During that time, James was also featured as a guest vocalist on songs by Snoop Dogg, Baby Bash, Paul Wall, The Federation, E-40, and others. [3]

2010-present

Since 2010, James has focused on songwriting and producing music for others. He has written songs with and for Jason Derulo, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Snoop Dogg, Christina Aguilera, Timbaland, Afrojack, Nelly, Akon, Wiz Khalifa, Sean Kingston, Ty Dolla $ign, Nicky Jam, Will Smith, and G-Eazy. [2] In 2016, James co-wrote "Don't You Need Somebody" for RedOne. The same year, Luis Fonsi and Erika Ender brought James on to help with remixing their Spanish-language song "Despacito," featuring Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee. [6] [7] James, whose mother's family is of Mexican heritage, [6] has written songs for Latin artists. The English language remix that James worked on was intended to expand the appeal of the original song which had already been a success. Justin Bieber was brought on to sing on the remix. [7]

"Despacito" was released in April 2017 and received international attention, topping charts in 47 countries. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-tying 16 weeks and topped the Latin 100 for a record-breaking 52 weeks. The song was nominated for three Grammys in 2018: Best Song, Best Record, and Best Pop-Duo. [8] The song won the Best Urban Fusion/Performance award at the 2018 Latin Grammys. [9] The song was also nominated for and won awards at the American Music Awards, [10] Billboard Music Awards, [11] and Billboard Latin Music Awards. [12]

James became part of the producer management division of The Core Entertainment in 2023. The same year he wrote the song "Religiously" for country musician Bailey Zimmerman. The song peaked at No.1 on the Canada Country Billboard Chart and US Country Airplay, [13] as well as receiving an ARIA Gold certification. [14]

Discography

With Scapegoat Wax

With One Block Radius

Select guest appearances

YearTitleArtist(s)Album
2006"I Wear My Sunglasses at Night” The Federation feat. E-40
2007"Another Day” Luckyiam Most Likely to Succeed
"Half a Dream” Mr. J Medeiros Of Gods and Girls
2008"Next to You” Mike Jones The Voice
"The Time” The Grouch Show You the World
2009"Get That Money” Far East Movement Animal
"I Grind” Paul Wall Fast Life
"Denial” The Grouch and Eligh Say G&E
2010"Fantasy Girl” Baby Bash Bashtown
"Contact” Drop City Yacht Club
"Rick Rock Horns” E-40 Revenue Retrivin’: Day Shift
"New Year's Eve” Snoop Dogg
"Suffocate” Eligh Grey Crow
2011"Fried" feat. Tech N9ne E-40 Revenue Retrievin’: Graveyard Shift
"El Lay” Snoop Dogg Doggumentary
"Dancing on My Own” Pixie Lott Young Foolish Happy
"Test of Time” Zion I and The Grouch Heroes in the Healing of a Nation
"Elevator Love” The Rej3ctz
2016"Crack the Combination” Baby Bash Don't Panic It's Organic
2021"Hi Lo” Paul Wall Hall of Fame Hustler
"Run It Up" Seeb Sad in Scandanavia

Select writing/production credits

YearGroupSongAlbumRole
2008 Baby Bash "What is it" feat. Sean Kingston CycloneWriter
Mike Jones "Next to You”Writer
2009 MoZella "Four Leaf Clover”Belle IslandProducer
"Freezing”
"Let's Stop Calling it Love”
"Uh-Uh”Producer / Vocals
2011 Iyaz "Pretty Girls" feat. Travie McCoy Writer
2012 Cover Drive "Lick Ya Down”Bajan StyleWriter
Chris Rene "Young Homie”I’m Right HereProducer
2013Fantasia"In Deep”Side Effects of YouWriter
Sean Kingston "Back 2 Life (Live it Up)" feat. T.I. Back 2 Life
"Bomba”
"How We Survive" feat. Busta Rhymes
"Ordinary Girl”
2014 Enrique Iglesias "Heart Attack” Sex and Love Writer
"I’m a Freak" feat. Pitbull
"Let Me Be your Lover" feat. Pitbull
"Only a Woman”
"Still your King”
"There Goes my Baby" feat. Flo Rida
"You and I”
"Turn the Night Up"
Jason Derulo "With the Lights on”Tattoos/Talk DirtyWriter
2015 The Janoskians "MoodSwings”Writer
Sean Paul "Bust It” The Perfect Guy Motion Picture Soundtrack Writer
Nicky Jam and Enrique Iglesias "Forgiveness" (El Perdon)Writer
Akon "Burning Alive”Writer
Empire Season 2 "Runnin”Writer
2016 Jay Sean feat. Sean Paul"You Make My Love Go”Writer
Red One feat. Enrique Iglesias, Shaggy, R. City, Seerayah "Don't You Need Somebody"Writer
Afrojack feat. Ty Dolla $ign "Gone”Writer
Dirty Heads "So Long”Writer
Marteen "Draymond”Writer
2017 Nelly "Sounds Good to Me”Writer
Jack & Jack "All Weekend Long”Writer
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber "Despacito Remix" Writer
Enrique Iglesias feat. Sean Paul "Subeme la Radio (Remix)”Writer
2018 Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull "Move to Miami”Writer
Marteen "Nothankyou” NOTHANKYOU. Writer
"Left to Right"
"Sriracha"
"Two Days"
"We Cool"
Nicky Jam feat. Will Smith, Era Istrefi "Live it Up"Writer
Sublime with Rome "Wicked Heart"Writer
2019Reiji Kawaguchi"Departure" [15] Writer
2023 Bailey Zimmerman "Religiously" Religiously. The Album. Writer
"Get to Gettin' Gone"

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2018 "Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber) [8] Song of the Year Nominated
Record of the Year Nominated
Best Pop Duo Nominated

Latin Grammy Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2017 "Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber) [9] Best Urban Fusion/Performance Won

American Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2017 "Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber) [10] Collaboration of the Year Won
Favorite Pop/Rock Song Won

Billboard Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2018 "Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber) [11] Top 100 Song Won
Top Selling Song Won
Top Streaming Song (Audio) Nominated
Top Streaming Song (Video) Won
Top Collaboration Won
Top Latin Song Won

Billboard Latin Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2018 "Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber) [12] Hot Latin Song of the Year]]Won
Hot Latin Song of the Year Won
Airplay Song of the Year Won
Digital Song of the Year Won
Streaming Song of the Year Won
Latin Pop Song of the Year Won

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References

  1. Staff (April 15, 2018). "Grammy Nominee Marty Garton has Roots in Dixon". Independent Voice.
  2. 1 2 3 Scharaga, Ashiah (December 13, 2017). "Grammy-Nominated Songwriter, Producer has Chico Roots". Chico Enterprise-Record.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Westerhouse, Andrew (November 17, 2014). "Marty James Should be a Household Name". Aversion Online.
  4. Smilebit (February 25, 2002). Jet Set Radio Future (Xbox). Sega. Level/area: Credits.
  5. 1 2 Jost, Matt (December 20, 2005). "One Block Radius: Long Story Short". Rap Reviews.
  6. 1 2 Staff (September 8, 2017). "'Despacito' Co-Writer Says Hit Proves Trump Is 'Small Minded,' 'Hispanic Culture Not Going Anywhere". TooFab.com.
  7. 1 2 C., Joey (September 8, 2017). "Despacito Remix: Luis Fonsi". Kiss El Paso.
  8. 1 2 Atkinson, Katie (January 28, 2018). "Grammys 2018 Winners: The Complete List". Billboard.
  9. 1 2 France, Lisa Respers (November 17, 2017). "Latin Grammys 2017: The Winners". CNN.
  10. 1 2 Diaz, Thathiana (November 20, 2017). "Record Breaking Despacito Wins Two Awards at AMA". People.
  11. 1 2 Staff (May 22, 2018). "'Despacito' is Latin Song with Most Billboard Music Awards". Entertainment Flow.
  12. 1 2 Downs, Ray (April 27, 2018). "'Despacito' Wins Big at 2018 Latin Billboard Awards". UPI.com.
  13. "Bailey Zimmerman". Billboard.
  14. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  15. "Japan's Reiji Kawaguchi Debuts With Hope-Filled EP Featuring 'Despacito' Writer". Billboard. August 7, 2019.