James Filkins

Acoustic guitarist James Filkins began writing, recording, and performing songs in his late teens. After submitting demo reels to various record companies without success, he shifted his focus to radio. From 1978 to 1991, he worked as an on-air personality and in programming at radio stations in Michigan. As music director for an R&R reporting station, he worked closely with music reps from major and minor labels while maintaining a weekly A/C playlist.

After earning a BS Degree in Secondary Education and a vocational teaching certificate in Radio and Television Production, he pursued a career in education starting in 1991. He taught a variety of subjects, including composition, literature, audio production, broadcast arts, and video production. 

He earned a master's degree in 1999 and began teaching at the college level while continuing his career at the secondary level. In addition, he taught sound reinforcement and assumed the sound reinforcement responsibilities at the high school where he taught.

James has recorded and mixed music in the ProTools environment for over 25 years. In 2007, Grammy award winner Bill Wolf mixed and mastered his first album, "Borderline Normal," a collection of original acoustic fingerstyle instrumentals. That was followed by "Summer Sands & Sleeping Bears" in 2012. 

After retiring from teaching in 2020, he built a small studio and began writing, recording, and marketing his music for streaming. He signed on to the Raighes Factory Label and released the album "Cranes in the Moonlight," which was named the third-best album released in 2023 by One World Music Radio. Each of his album releases has featured musicians from around the world.

His 2025 album, "North Manitou Trail," features musicians from seven countries, including renowned musicians Crispin Campbell (cello), Jack Dryden (Bass), Brian Donohoe (Saxophone), and Katie Larson and Sav Madigan from the band The Accidentals on cello and violin.