‘Catch of the Day’ – Casey James [AUDIO]

Today's Catch spotlights a former American Idol Finalist from Plano, Texas, who started playing guitar at age 13, and for whom rumors of his demise have greatly been exaggerated. Twice.

Casey James was born in Plano, Texas, but was raised in Cool, Texas^. James had a bad reaction to his pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine when he was an infant, and his family feared brain damage. According to his mother, however, she realized that he would be all right and was going to be musical when he started humming the theme song from M*A*S*H.

At the age of 21, he was in a serious motorcycle accident that nearly ended his life. He was told by his doctor that he would no longer be able to play guitar, a medical prediction that also proved untrue.

James was the third-place finalist in season 9 of American Idol. Soon after he was signed by Sony Music Nashville/BNA Records. His self-titled debut album was released in 2012 and garnered 2 top-30 singles released in 2011: "Let's Don't Call It A Night" and "Crying On A Suitcase".

After his first album, James' contract was shifted by Sony to its subsidiary, Columbia Nashville/19 Records. He is currently working on a new album for the label, and the first release is Today's Catch of the Day. "Fall Apart" is new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.