Ben James

Benjamin James was born in Hickory, North Carolina on January 24, 1996. He grew up in a musical family, and almost from the time he could talk, he was singing gospel harmony in church with his family. His first public performance was singing John Anderson’s “Swingin’” at his elementary school talent show. From that moment on, he was hooked. Later, in high school and college, he sang with a country band. 

Ben enrolled at Lenoir Rhyne University in 2014 and played golf for the school. In 2016, he transferred to Appalachian State University, graduating in 2018 with a bachelor’s in risk management and insurance. After college, he took a job in insurance.

However, music continued to beckon and within two years Ben made the move to Nashville. He was recording demos one day at Hilltop Studio when he ran into Jimmy Fortune, who had always been one of his heroes. Jimmy was scheduled to perform with Mike Rogers, Josh Swift, and Ben Isaacs at the Station Inn that night, and he invited Ben to join him. On the last song he invited Ben to the stage to sing “Elizabeth” with him.

That evening would prove to be pivotal in Ben’s career. Several people who heard him that night told Doyle Lawson about him. Lawson was looking for a high lead/tenor singer for his group Quicksilver, and he called Ben to audition. Ben was hired for the job and stayed from 2020 until Lawson’s retirement at the end of 2021. During that time, Lawson and Quicksilver won the 2022 International Bluegrass Music Association Vocal Group of the Year.

“I will never forget what I learned from Doyle and the guys in that band,” Ben says. “They shaped me a lot musically, and I am forever grateful for that opportunity.”

After Lawson’s retirement, Ben joined another bluegrass music staple, Grand Ole Opry members Dailey and Vincent. He sang with them from the beginning of 2022 until 2023. 

The first time Ben saw The Oak Ridge Boys live was when he was on the road with Dailey and Vincent. It was in 2022 in Wheeling, West Virginia. 

“Joe handed me the mic and said, ‘You’ve got the next verse.’ And I’m not sure I will ever get over that moment. ‘Elvira’ was always on repeat when I was growing up. It’s still one of those timeless songs that never grows old.”

Ben is also a songwriter, and two of his songs, “I Hear You Calling” and “Teardrops in Tennessee,” are on his latest solo album, Wonderland. The latter song debuted at Number One on bluegrass radio.

In his spare time, Ben is an avid outdoorsman, and he can often be found in the woods hunting. He also enjoys playing golf.

Ben and his wife, Maggie, live in Greensboro, North Carolina and have a German Shepherd named Grizzly.