artist info

Let’s start with the voice, an instrument through which she can communicate anything. A gift bestowed upon her that she has expertly trained, meticulously nurtured, and passionately galvanized into action by an urgency to make real music. Next, the stories, and she has them in spades. They are full of truth and beauty, heartache and thoughtfulness. They reveal colors we weren’t expecting to see. They make us close our eyes and relate. And finally, the soul – the emotional and intellectual energy through which these parts are fueled. That special something that prompted The Wall Street Journal to herald her as "the most promising young vocalist to come along so far this century." That young vocalist is Morgan James. And Morgan James is a soul singer. One voice is all it takes. The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen, elicit tears, or bring you back to a different era altogether. A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities. That holds true for New York-based soul singer, songwriter, and Broadway actress Morgan James.

Morgan’s latest full album Nobody’s Fool is a luminous love letter to 90s R&B, featuring nine brand new songs, and one cover of Jeff Buckley’s “Everybody Here Wants You”; the release of which culminated in a 60 city US tour with her band. The album is her third original soul album recorded at the world-class Memphis Magnetic Recording, along with “Memphis Magnetic”, and “A Very Magnetic Christmas”, both recorded live to analog tape.

Morgan grew up listening to everyone from Joni Mitchell to Paul Simon to Prince to Aretha Franklin, cultivating an insatiable love for strong songwriters. After graduating from The Juilliard School with a classical music degree, and performing in the original companies of five Broadway productions, James began writing and recording her own music. Meeting her mentor Berry Gordy, Jr. led to a record deal at Epic Records, where she recorded and released her solo album Hunter in 2014. In addition to her five studio albums, James recorded and released a full album cover of Joni Mitchell’s seminal Blue as well as The Beatles’ White Album to celebrate the 50th anniversary. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Morgan and her husband, Doug Wamble, released two volumes of her fan favorite Quarantunes. Morgan’s music is available on all streaming platforms.

Morgan has cultivated a world of fans with her viral YouTube videos, and she loves connecting with them on social media and at her live shows. With viral sensation postmodern jukebox, and her own channel, Morgan has amassed more than 250 million views on YouTube, (and climbing). Over the last several years, James has established herself as a touring powerhouse, playing with her own band and symphony orchestras all over the world, allowing her to raise the funds to create her albums and make every decision from the ground up.

“I feel like I am a part of the lineage of soul music. My guiding force throughout my creative process is ‘What would Aretha say? What would Otis say?’ It’s not a retro or throwback by any means. This music is me: classic elements, timeless melodies, and lyrics from my soul and experience. We need that right now. We need real music now more than ever.”