Coming Home for the Dixon May Fair

By Brianna Boyd

Special to Dixon Patch

Marty James, the lead singer of the Indie group, One Block Radius, may be a well known singer and songwriter in Los Angeles, but his roots are deep in northern California, Solano County, and Dixon.

James lived in Dixon until he was nine years old, and still has many family members and friends who live in the community. His connection to the area makes his upcoming May 9 performance at the Dixon May Fair even more special to him. One Block Radius, the band he and two friends formed in 2004, will open for hip hop star Snoop Dogg, an artist James has worked with multiple times in his musical career.

“It’s going to be a real energized and fun show,” James said. “We’re a traveling party and we like to get on stage and have fun and get the crowd involved. We have a few surprises planned, and some special guests. I can’t say too much, but we’re going to have something good for you guys.”

And James is no stranger to the May Fair. He grew up visiting the annual fair, and remembers winning a pie eating contest when he was 8 years old. As a musician, he performed with One Block Radius on the Leber Garden Stage in 2010.

“We had the best time, and we’ve been wanting to come back,” James said. “I’m excited to get on the stage, see my family and hopefully meet some new fans and let people hear the music we’ve been working on for the last few years, and even brand new stuff people have never heard before.”

James has many fond memories of growing up in Dixon. He attended school at Silveyville Elementary and before he moved to Chico with his dad. He was still regularly in Solano County, visiting his grandmother, longtime Dixon May Fair employee Dolores Garton, as well as uncles, aunts and cousins in Dixon and the surrounding area.

He knew at a young age that music would play an important part in his life. When he was in junior high, a then 13-year-old James and several of his friends often pretended they were in a rap group. They soon learned how to record music and created their own songs.

By 14, James was recording songs in Chico and going to studios in San Francisco. Those first years in the studio, he said, gave him a solid foundation for his career today. He learned how to put beats together and he sent out countless music packages to artists, fan clubs, managers and record companies.

“Any address I could find in any CD, I would send something to and I’d get the phone number and follow up,” he said. “At the time, I didn’t realize this, but I was very determined.

“I feel very blessed that I was able to find that passion at a young age,” he added. “It’s really important for people to find something that drives them and motivates them and keeps them pushing further ahead for their dreams. To this day, I’m thankful I started off so young.”

In 1997, a then 16-year-old James met Johnny Z, the lead singer of the group N2Deep. N2Deep, based in Vallejo, had a gold record and album out called “Back to the Hotel”. James looked up to them and would often send the band his music. Before long, he became friends with Johnny Z.

“Johnny Z really took me under his wing,” he said. “He had a really nice studio in downtown Vallejo and a lot of connections. He had a nice movement going on down there and he really brought me into it. He was my mentor, he believed in me.”

When James was still in high school, he and Johnny Z formed Scapegoat Wax. The two performed hip hop and alternative music with a live band, and did shows in Chico, Tahoe, Sacramento, Berkeley and the Solano County Fair in Vallejo. Their music eventually reached the Beastie Boys, whose record company, Grand Royal Records, signed Scapegoat Wax in 2000. James and Johnny Z then made the move from northern California to Los Angeles, where they released the album “Okeeblow”. Scapegoat Wax later released three independent albums between 2001 and 2004.

“It was kind of a lot at once but we jumped right in,” James said. “I set up shop down here and haven’t looked back since. Those first couple of years were a real learning experience. That first group was really getting my feet wet and recognizing the sort of dedication and focus you need. A lot of being an artist is not just about making music, it’s thinking how you will present the package. There is an art to being an artist, and you really have to learn that.”

When Scapegoat Wax ended in 2003, James decided he wanted to return to his Indie roots. He formed One Block Radius with Bay Area rapper Z-Man, and Los Angeles-based musician MDA.  They independently released an album, “Long Story Short” in 2005. Produced by James, the album featured a diverse selection of songs ranging from pop to hip-hop. They toured and performed in shows with a number of artists and groups, including Hiero, Maroon 5, Living Legends, Matisyahu, De La Soul, and Trick Daddy. 

A turning point in his career came in 2006, when he collaborated with The Federation on the hit song, “I Wear My Stunna’ Glasses”. He sang the hook of the single. It opened his voice to a new audience, he said, and he was soon collaborating with other artists.

Even as his songwriting career was taking off, James continued to work with One Block Radius. In 2008, the group signed with Mercury Records and released a self-titled album. One of the singles, “You Got Me”, was a Top 40 hit.

James was signed as a writer and producer to EMI Music Publishing in 2009. He continues to work for the company today, and has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Akon, B.o.B, Chris Rene, Dev, Diane Warren, Far East Movement, Happy Perez, Hot Chelle Rae, Iyaz, Jason Derulo, Kara DioGuardi, Karmin, Lil Jon, Nelly, Sean Kingston, Snoop Dogg and more.

 “I’ve been able to do some amazing collaborations and work with amazing people over my whole career, but especially the last few years,” he said.

He has had songs featured in over a dozen major motion pictures, including “Jack and Jill”, “America’s Sweethearts”, “40 Days and 40 Nights”, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2”, as well as several TV placements like “Malcolm In the Middle” and “Fringe”.

James’ most recent collaborations are with Sean Kingston and former X-Factor contestant Chris Rene. Last summer, he worked with Snoop Dogg on the singles “New Year’s Eve” and “El Lay”.

As much as he enjoys songwriting, James continues to be just as passionate about performing. Being one feeds the other, he said.

“It’s all about the music for me,” he said. “I’ve been doing this professionally now with no other job since 2000, and I feel very fortunate and blessed. I’m working now more than I ever have and I thank God for the opportunities.”

Tickets for the May 9 Snoop Dogg concert, featuring special guest One Block Radius, are now available for purchase at the Dixon May Fair Box Office, 655 South First St. in Dixon, at all TicketMaster Outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000. Reserved tickets are $75 and $45, and general admission seating is $35. Every concert ticket includes admission to the fair.

The 137th annual Dixon May Fair will open on Thursday, May 10 and entertain thousands of visitors through Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 13.

The fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. all four days, with a “soft” opening planned the evening of Wednesday, May 9 for the Snoop Dogg and One Block Radius concert. Other attractions and entertainment scheduled include Larry the Cable Guy, Kellie Pickler and Phil Vassar, The English Beat and The Romantics and the annual demolition derby.  For more information, visit www.dixonmayfair.com.

Editor's note: Brianna is the editor of the