Panama City Beach resident Neal James was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel last June by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. A Kentucky Colonel is an ambassador of goodwill and fellowship for the commonwealth.
Other notable Colonels include Winston Churchill, Judy Garland, Wayne Gretzky, Whoopi Goldberg and Muhammad Ali, to name a few.
But unless you were a young adult during the 1980s and ‘90s, you might wonder who this new bluegrass ambassador is.
Hint: 1989’s Chillicothe State Prison ‘Inside The Walls’ performance by Merle Haggard and Johnny Paycheck.
Or how about The Nashville Network, VH1, and MTV?
That’s right, James is a successful singer-songwriter and record-video producer who’s collaborated with the likes of Dottie West, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Bruce Springsteen and the Culture Club, among others. But not to get it twisted, the cowboy hat-wearing artist’s true love is R&B.
James, an active member of the Beach’s chamber of commerce, told the News Herald from his lagoon-shore home that he thinks the Kentucky honor was bestowed on him because of his continued work promoting the state’s natural beauty and musicians in his directed videos. He also enjoys singing for military veteran groups throughout the state, he added.
But James’ true soft spot is Panama City Beach. He said during his high school years he’d spend all his summers, and some spring breaks, with his bandmates driving up and down the coastline playing music.
Somebody cue Alphaville’s ‘Forever Young.’
Born and raised in Commerce, Georgia, James splits his time working in Nashville, and writing songs along the Emerald Coast.Neal James reflects on a lifetime in music in exclusive video interviews.
