James Otto

The easy approach in a sound bite culture is to succinctly label the persona and the project, but which to choose: The kid from the Pacific Northwest who bleeds classic rock? The backwoods Alabama teen whose voice channels Southern Rock and high volume country? The romantic balladeer whose passion for soul draws on Otis and Conway? The successful and contemplative songwriter?

Truth is, James Otto is all of these, and probably a few more. Standing an easy 6’5” tall with a frame more akin to an NFL lineman than an entertainer, his mere presence is enough to garner your attention. And his voice? Maybe bigger. John Rich of the country duo Big & Rich often introduces Otto as “The Biggest Voice in Country Music,” a claim few refute upon hearing him sing.

The journey leading to his Warner Bros./Raybaw Records debut album—selling his ‘72 Chevelle to move to Nashville, a seven-year immersion in the craft of songwriting, an earlier ill-fated major label deal, touring with superstars like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Shania Twain, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Hank Jr.— has enabled him to incorporate and distinctly express all the hues of his musical talent. And thus, Sunset Man.

“As long as I can possibly remember I have been obsessed with music,” Otto says. “Listening to it on the radio, getting into my mom’s record collection—my tastes have changed, but music has been there my whole life.”