James Darden

James Darden, born in Montgomery, Alabama & raised in the small town of Slapout/Holtville, Alabama. He began at an early age listening to traditional country music such as, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Hank Williams, Hank Jr., Conway Twitty, Keith Whitley, and Johnny Cash. James would listen to his father, Jessie Oneal Darden, former member of the Country Playboys, play his Martin acoustic guitar, banjo, and mandolin around the house. This inspired James to pick up the guitar and begin his learning experience of traditional country music. James would go watch his brother, Mike Darden play drums for a local band, which led to the brothers forming their own band. The brothers would practice in a small shed and finally picked up a dedicated bass player, Steve Wells. The journey began in a small night club in Marbury, Al called DJS. Playing as the house band for a year. This led to other gigs and picking up an outstanding guitarist, Suzie McMahon. The band Played numerous venues from the Rodeo trail rides to local and surrounding night clubs. Through time the band would become Kickin It South and James would start writing original songs. This led to him making trips to Nashville, TN recording his songs. James has the ambition and dedication to become the next Nashville recording artist.