James and the Shame is the solo music project of Rhett James McLaughlin. Born in Macon, GA and raised in North Carolina, Rhett was steeped in the melodies of his father’s musical heroes, singing along with records spinning the likes of Merle Haggard, George Jones, Roy Orbison, and Elvis Presley. While in high school in the nineties, Rhett picked up the guitar and played along with George Strait, Randy Travis, and Alan Jackson, absorbing their lyrical nuances and soft, soulful delivery.