From Sedgley to LA: Manager celebrates country star's double GRAMMY win
A Black Country man was left celebrating after an American country star he manages won two GRAMMY awards.
James Garner, 31, attended the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles where his client Tanya Tucker scooped Best Country Song and Best Country Album.
He described the ceremony as an "amazing opportunity" where he rubbed shoulders with music stars like Gwen Stefani and Ariana Grande, at the Staples Center.
James grew up in Sedgley and attended Dormston School - but now lives a new life far from his Black Country roots.
He lives in Nashville and runs a successful management company, Sawyer and Garner Management, alongside his wife Jerilyn.
Asked for his reaction on the GRAMMY wins, James said: "Overjoyed, an amazing feeling.
"It was nearly a year to date that we had started the record (Tanya's award-winning song Bring My Flowers Now) at Sunset Sound (recording studios) in Los Angeles and one year later we are here to take home her first ever GRAMMY in a 50 year career.
"It all began with an idea that we worked day in and day out to manifest."
He continued: "It was a fun and full packed day, it started at 6am and we got back to our hotel after celebrating at 4am.
"You're walking the halls with all kinds of stars, like Ariana Grande and Gwen Stafani, and coming from a small town in the Black Country is a pretty amazing opportunity."
James got into the industry through his father, who is another successful production manager.
Gary, 59, who still lives in the Midlands, is the production manager for Dolly Parton and he has previously managed Slip Knot over a 38-year-career.
James began was working as a production assistant for his father 10 years ago and worked his way up the company. From there he moved to Nashville in 2014 and built up a "solid work and home base".
He married his wife Jerilyn in January 2017 and that year they set up their management company called Sawyer and Garner Management.
He continued: "We manage all aspects of artists' careers. From touring, putting a record together, we also deal with film and documentary.
"We have a documentary on Tanya to come out this year and we had another client JT Hodges in a lifetime movie at Christmas."
