Biography
Born James E. Cason on 27 November 1939 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, the future songwriter developed an affinity for R&B during the mid-1950s and assembled the Casuals, a rock ‘n’ roll outfit unusual for its locale. Johnny McCreery, Chester Power, Billy Smith and Richard Williams completed the lineup, which performed on local television broadcasts. Cason also contributed backing vocals to sessions featuring Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers and Bob Wills. Teaming with Bobby Russell, he co-wrote “Tennessee,” which the pair cut as the Todds alongside Bergen White; he further participated in groups including the Statues and the Countdowns. Recording under the alias Garry Miles, he delivered a version of Garry Mills’ hit “Look For A Star.” Cason and Russell later scored successes such as “Little Green Apples” and launched both a publishing venture and a record label.
Relocating to Los Angeles in the early 1960s, Cason joined Liberty Records as a staff producer. He oversaw projects for the Crickets and, when Jerry Naylor fell ill before their 1964 British tour, stepped in as substitute vocalist; Jerry Allison, Sonny Curtis and Glen D. Hardin completed the touring quartet. In the same role he shaped Jimmy Buffett’s first two albums, Down To Earth and High Cumberland Jubilee, the latter containing numerous tracks written jointly by Cason and Buffett.
During the 1970s Cason opened Creative Workshop, his own Nashville studio that attracted clients such as Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. His compositions include “My Love Song To You,” cut by the Casuals; “Sandy,” recorded by Ronny And The Daytonas; “Soldier Of Love,” later covered by the Beatles; and, most prominently, “Everlasting Love,” created with Mac Gayden and first popularized by Robert Knight in the 1960s, with subsequent versions including Jamie Cullum’s early-2000s rendition. Additional artists who have interpreted his material range from the Derailers, Olivia Newton-John and Brenda Lee to Freddy Weller. Cason’s autobiography appeared in 2004.
Relocating to Los Angeles in the early 1960s, Cason joined Liberty Records as a staff producer. He oversaw projects for the Crickets and, when Jerry Naylor fell ill before their 1964 British tour, stepped in as substitute vocalist; Jerry Allison, Sonny Curtis and Glen D. Hardin completed the touring quartet. In the same role he shaped Jimmy Buffett’s first two albums, Down To Earth and High Cumberland Jubilee, the latter containing numerous tracks written jointly by Cason and Buffett.
During the 1970s Cason opened Creative Workshop, his own Nashville studio that attracted clients such as Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. His compositions include “My Love Song To You,” cut by the Casuals; “Sandy,” recorded by Ronny And The Daytonas; “Soldier Of Love,” later covered by the Beatles; and, most prominently, “Everlasting Love,” created with Mac Gayden and first popularized by Robert Knight in the 1960s, with subsequent versions including Jamie Cullum’s early-2000s rendition. Additional artists who have interpreted his material range from the Derailers, Olivia Newton-John and Brenda Lee to Freddy Weller. Cason’s autobiography appeared in 2004.
Albums
