With an accomplished band, he charmed gay music fans seeking a masculine rock performer who sang openly, and with humor, about sexuality. The late 1990s saw the indie release of his first two CDs, Paperback Romeo and Guilty Pleasures.īy 2000, his transformation into Nick Name took over. He knew that he couldn't stay closeted.Īfter moving to LA, he acted in a few films while working on his music. But at the point of almost signing a lucrative music contract with a country rock band, James balked. Years later, after a 1993 appearance on Star Search, James lived in Nashville, developed his country repertoire, and was featured in music videos for Tanya Tucker, Trisha Yearwood, and others, and shared the stage with Charlie Daniels. Although he knew he was gay or at least bisexual at a young age, he fought it while immersed in the church, which included a missionary trip to Argentina. The gay singer-songwriter lived in San Francisco for a few years, and performed at local nightclubs.Īs a teenager, James veered sharply from his conservative Mormon childhood in Logan, Utah after leaving home to pursue a music career. Kent James, also known as the punk-influenced rock band frontman Nick Name, died at his home in Palm Springs on July 3, 2020.
