Marty James | |
|---|---|
 Marty James in December 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Chico, California, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, record producer, performer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, keyboard, programming (music) |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Low Post, Grand Royal, Avatar Records, Mercury, Island Def Jam, UnderByte Sound |
| Website | Marty James on Twitter |
Marty James Garton Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and record producer from Chico, California.[1]
He has released albums and singles as the front man and producer of Scapegoat Wax and One Block Radius.[2][3] 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, won a Latin Grammy, and was nominated for three Grammys.[4]
Performer
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.[5]
During high school, James was discovered by Johnny Zunino of N2Deep. After his two previous groups disbanded, James and Zunino started Scapegoat Wax.[6] 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.[5] When Grand Royal collapsed, 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.[6]
In 2004, James started One Block Radius with Mr. Dope America, who toured with Scapegoat Wax, and San Francisco emcee Z Man.[7] They signed to Los Angeles independent label Avatar Records in 2005 and released the album Long Story Short, which James wrote, produced, and mixed.[7] James was featured as a guest vocalist on songs by Snoop Dogg, Baby Bash, Paul Wall, The Federation, E-40, and others.[6]
Songwriter
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.[5] James is currently songwriting, as well as developing talent, for Pulse Music Group.[5]
"Despacito"
James, whose mother's family is of Mexican heritage,[8] has written songs for Latin artists. In 2016, Luis Fonsi and Erika Ender brought James on to help with remixing their Spanish-language song "Despacito," featuring Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee.[8][9] The original song had proven to be a success, and the English language remix that James worked on was intended to expand its appeal. Justin Bieber was brought on to sing on the remix.[9]
The song 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.[4] The song won the Best Urban Fusion/Performance award at the 2018 Latin Grammys.[10] The song was also nominated for and won awards at the American Music Awards,[11] Billboard Music Awards,[12] and Billboard Latin Music Awards.[13]
Awards
Grammys
[4]
Best Record 2018 – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Nominated
Best Song 2018 – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Nominated
Best Pop-Duo – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Nominated
Latin Grammys
[10]
Best Urban Fusion/Performance – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Won
American Music Awards [11]
Collaboration of the Year – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Won
Favorite Pop/Rock Song – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Won
Billboard Music Awards[12]
Top Hot 100 Song – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Won
Top Streaming Song (Audio) – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Nominated
Top Streaming Song (Video) – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Won
Top Selling Song – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Won
Top Collaboration – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Won
Top Latin Song – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Nominated
Billboard Latin Music Awards
[13] Hot Latin Song of the Year – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Won
Hot Latin Song of the Year (Vocal Event) – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Won
Airplay Song of the Year – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Won
Digital Song of the Year – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Won
Streaming Song of the Year – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Won
Latin Pop Song of the Year – Despacito (Co-Writer) – Nominated
Discography
Select guest appearances
| Year | Title | Artist(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 |
Select writing/production credits
| Year | Group | Song | Album | Role |
| 2008 | Baby Bash | "What is it" feat. Sean Kingston | Cyclone | Writer |
| Mike Jones | "Next to You” | Writer | ||
| 2009 | MoZella | "Four Leaf Clover” | Belle Island | Producer |
| "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 Style | Writer |
| Chris Rene | "Young Homie” | I’m Right Here | Producer | |
| 2013 | Fantasia | "In Deep” | Side Effects of You | Writer |
| 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” | ||||
| Jason Derulo | "With the Lights on” | Tattoos/Talk Dirty | Writer | |
| 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 |
References
- 1 2 Staff (April 15, 2018). "Grammy Nominee Marty Garton has Roots in Dixon". Independent Voice.
- ↑ Wilson, MacKenzie (2011). Scapegoat Wax – Biography. Allmusic. Retrieved July 26, 2011
- ↑ Birchmeier, Jason (2011). One Block Radius – Biography. Allmusic. Retrieved July 26, 2011
- 1 2 3 Atkinson, Katie (January 28, 2018). "Grammys 2018 Winners: The Complete List". Billboard.
- 1 2 3 4 Scharaga, Ashiah (December 13, 2017). "Grammy-Nominated Songwriter, Producer has Chico Roots". Chico Enterprise-Record.
- 1 2 3 Aversionline, Andrew (November 17, 2014). "Marty James Should be a Household Name". Aversion Online.
- 1 2 Jost, Matt (December 20, 2005). "One Block Radius: Long Story Short". Rap Reviews.
- 1 2 Staff (September 8, 2017). "'Despacito' Co-Writer Says Hit Proves Trump Is 'Small Minded,' 'Hispanic Culture Not Going Anywhere". TooFab.com.
- 1 2 C., Joey (September 8, 2017). "Despacito Remix: Luis Fonsi". Kiss El Paso.
- 1 2 France, Lisa Respers (November 17, 2017). "Latin Grammys 2017: The Winners". CNN.
- 1 2 Diaz, Thathiana (November 20, 2017). "Record Breaking Despacito Wins Two Awards at AMA". People.
- 1 2 Staff (May 22, 2018). "'Despacito' is Latin Song with Most Billboard Music Awards". Entertainment Flow.
- 1 2 Downs, Ray (April 27, 2018). "'Despacito' Wins Big at 2018 Latin Billboard Awards". UPI.com.
External links
- Marty James discography at Discogs