About
The Biggest Voice In Country Music
James Otto has been called The Biggest Voice in Country Music & that might just be true. Standing a broad-shouldered 6 foot 5 inches tall, Otto has a powerhouse voice to match.
His textured, sometimes raspy vocals are delivered with passion and plenty of soul.Otto blends that soulful voice with great storytelling and a smooth, funky grooveto create his signature Country Soul sound.
Otto rose to prominence when he signed with Warner Bros. and released the album Sunset Man. His breakthrough hit, "Just Got Started Lovin' You," went to the top of the charts as a 2-week #1 song and became the "most played country song of the year." Otto also received a Grammy Nomination for "Best Male Country Vocal Performance" of the song. The hit's popularity has endured, as it’s on the list of Billboard's 100 Greatest Country Songs, confirming it as one of the most played songs in the history of country radio.
A founding member of MuzikMafia, Otto has also earned a reputation as one of Nashville’s most compelling songwriters. He co-wrote Jamey Johnson’s career-defining hit, “In Color," and for that song, Otto again received a Grammy nod, but this time as a songwriter for "Best Country Song." “In Color” brought further recognition, as he took home awards for both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Academy’s “Song of the Year.” Later, Otto co-penned "Somethin' 'Bout a Boat" for Jimmy Buffett, which uniquely made its way to Broadway as part of the musical Escape to Margaritaville. He also co-wrote “No Hurry” which soared to the top of the charts for the Zac Brown Band. Additionally, Otto has collaborated on songs for artists: Randy Houser, Chris Janson, Darius Rucker, Trace Adkins, Josh Kiser, John Rich, John Anderson, Randy Owen, the supergroup Alabama and many more.
His highly anticipated new album Self Made Fool is slated for release this year.
