Originally from Garwood, New Jersey, Hugh James has been playing piano since the age of 5, and started playing in garage and basement bands as a child. Soon he started writing his own songs and music, which led him to study piano and composition at the University of Miami, before settling down in Los Angeles. Here he developed a multi-faceted music career, which included writing songs for Tiffany, and Steve Holy, recording and performing live with Michael McDonald, and BJ Thomas, placing songs in a number of films, and taking the role of Featured Pianist in Residence, at Disney’s Grand California Hotel.