Marty James
Marty James in December 2017
Background information
OriginChico, California, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Songwriter, record producer, performer
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboard, programming (music)
Years active2000–present
LabelsLow Post, Grand Royal, Avatar Records, Mercury, Island Def Jam, UnderByte Sound
WebsiteMarty 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. 1 2 Staff (April 15, 2018). "Grammy Nominee Marty Garton has Roots in Dixon". Independent Voice.
  2. Wilson, MacKenzie (2011). Scapegoat Wax – Biography. Allmusic. Retrieved July 26, 2011
  3. Birchmeier, Jason (2011). One Block Radius – Biography. Allmusic. Retrieved July 26, 2011
  4. 1 2 3 Atkinson, Katie (January 28, 2018). "Grammys 2018 Winners: The Complete List". Billboard.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Scharaga, Ashiah (December 13, 2017). "Grammy-Nominated Songwriter, Producer has Chico Roots". Chico Enterprise-Record.
  6. 1 2 3 Aversionline, Andrew (November 17, 2014). "Marty James Should be a Household Name". Aversion Online.
  7. 1 2 Jost, Matt (December 20, 2005). "One Block Radius: Long Story Short". Rap Reviews.
  8. 1 2 Staff (September 8, 2017). "'Despacito' Co-Writer Says Hit Proves Trump Is 'Small Minded,' 'Hispanic Culture Not Going Anywhere". TooFab.com.
  9. 1 2 C., Joey (September 8, 2017). "Despacito Remix: Luis Fonsi". Kiss El Paso.
  10. 1 2 France, Lisa Respers (November 17, 2017). "Latin Grammys 2017: The Winners". CNN.
  11. 1 2 Diaz, Thathiana (November 20, 2017). "Record Breaking Despacito Wins Two Awards at AMA". People.
  12. 1 2 Staff (May 22, 2018). "'Despacito' is Latin Song with Most Billboard Music Awards". Entertainment Flow.
  13. 1 2 Downs, Ray (April 27, 2018). "'Despacito' Wins Big at 2018 Latin Billboard Awards". UPI.com.
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