Parson James (born June 7, 1994) is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known for his single "

Stole the Show "Stole the Show" is a song by Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo, featuring vocals from American singer Parson James. It was released on 23 March 2015, becoming a hit in a number of countries and the biggest commercial success of Kygo besides " ...

", a collaboration with Norwegian producer Kygo. The song became a hit in a number of countries as well as receiving certifications in Italy, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. He has collaborated with various artists including on the song "Insomnia" by

Audien Nathaniel "Nate" Rathbun (born January 11, 1992), better known under his stage name Audien, is a Grammy-nominated American DJ, record producer and musician. He produces progressive house, Trance music, trance, electro house, and Trap music (EDM), ...

. On February 5, 2016, he released his extended play release ''The Temple EP'' on Sony Music with a full studio album due later on RCA Records.

Biography

James was born Ashton Parson in

Cheraw The Cheraw people, also known as the Saraw or Saura, were a Siouan-speaking tribe of indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands, in the Piedmont area of North Carolina near the Sauratown Mountains, east of Pilot Mountain and north of the Yad ...

of an interracial relationship, with his father being black and his mother white. His mother, just 16, was kicked out of her parents' house because of the relationship. He and his single mother faced hardship in Cheraw, South Carolina, where he was born and raised and where he grew up singing hymns in church. At 17, he decided to move to New York City, partly because he wanted wider possibilities than his conservative hometown would offer to a

bi-racial Mixed race people are people of more than one race or ethnicity. A variety of terms have been used both historically and presently for mixed race people in a variety of contexts, including ''multiethnic'', ''polyethnic'', occasionally ''bi-ethn ...

and gay young man. James signed with RCA Records in early 2015 after the release of his first single, "

", a collaboration he co-wrote with Kygo. The song became a hit in a number of countries as well as receiving certifications in Italy, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. The video to the song was released at the YouTube Music Awards, with the duo also performing a cover of Tove Lo's single " Habits" on BBC One's Live Lounge. Parson followed-up with his solo debut, "Sinner Like You", a song produced by Elof Loelv. In addition to releasing his own music under RCA, he has collaborated with additional artists including on the song "Insomnia" by

. On 5 February 2016, he released his extended play release ''The Temple EP'' on Sony Music with a full studio album due later in the year on RCA Records. The EP included the title track "Temple", plus "Slow Dance with the Devil", "Sinner Like You", his great hit "Stole the Show" and finally "Waiting Game". James also appeared on ''

Late Night with Seth Meyers ''Late Night with Seth Meyers'' is an American late-night news and political satire talk show hosted by Seth Meyers on NBC. The show premiered on February 24, 2014, and is produced by Broadway Video and Universal Television. Airing weeknights a ...

'' performing "Temple" from the EP after having been featured with Kygo in February 2016, performing "Stole the Show" live on '' The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'' alongside Kygo. The track "Waiting Game" from ''The Temple EP'' got huge exposure when Trent Harmon, a contestant in season 15, the last season of the '' American Idol'' performed it after a suggestion by judge and mentor Keith Urban. In April 2016, James was featured on the cover and in the pages of '' Hello Mr.'', and in November 2016 was picked as " Artist of the Month" by

Elvis Duran Elvis Duran (born Barry Brian Cope; August 5, 1964) is an American radio personality. He is the host of the daily morning radio program ''Elvis Duran and the Morning Show'' in New York on Z100 and in syndication on Premiere Networks. Before h ...

performing his single "Sad Song" during the NBC's '' Today'' show with Kathie Lee and Hoda Kotb. In February 2021, Parson James joined the roster of Prescription Songs.

Discography

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

References

External links

Parson James official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Parson American male singer-songwriters Living people RCA Records artists People from Cheraw, South Carolina American LGBT singers LGBT songwriters LGBT people from South Carolina 1994 births 21st-century American singers 21st-century American male singers American gay musicians 20th-century LGBT people 21st-century LGBT people Singer-songwriters from South Carolina