Marty James Garton Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and record producer from Chico, California. He has released albums and singles as the front man and producer of Scapegoat Wax and One Block Radius and as part of the writer-producer management division of The Core Entertainment. James co-wrote the English-language remix of Luis Fonsi's Despacito Remix, which featured Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber. The song went on to top charts in both English- and Spanish-speaking parts of the world, was nominated for three Grammys, and won numerous music awards including a Latin Grammy, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, and Billboard Latin Music Awards. He also wrote the 2023 song "Religiously" for country musician Bailey Zimmerman which peaked at No.1 on the Canada Country Billboard Chart and US Country Airplay chart.
Early life and education James grew up in Dixon, CA but moved to Chico, CA with his father. By 13, James was performing at local talent shows and making his own demos on equipment he purchased himself. He began submitting the demos to labels and producers in the Bay Area and Los Angeles when he was 16.
Career Early career
During high school, James was discovered by Johnny Zunino of N2Deep. After his two previous groups disbanded, James and Zunino started Scapegoat Wax. The band originally signed to Good Vibe Recordings in 1999 for their first album, Luxurious. In 2000 they moved to the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal Label, and James worked with Mike D on the band's second album, Okeeblow. When Grand Royal closed, the band went to Hollywood Records and released SWAX in 2002. The band gained critical acclaim with the media, but failed to establish commercial success. The band was best known for their single "Aisle 10 (Hello Allison)", which reached moderate success in the US and was part of the Xbox video game Jet Set Radio Future as well as being on the soundtrack for Project Gotham Racing. They also released other singles which were used in motion picture soundtracks and television shows, such as Clockstoppers, America's Sweethearts and 40 Days and 40 Nights, the episode "Company Picnic: Part 2" of Malcolm in the Middle and the unaired pilot of Wonderfalls.
In 2004, James started One Block Radius with Mr. Dope America, who toured with Scapegoat Wax, and San Francisco emcee Z Man. They signed to Los Angeles independent label Avatar Records in 2005 and released the album Long Story Short, which James wrote, produced, and mixed. During that time, James was also featured as a guest vocalist on songs by Snoop Dogg, Baby Bash, Paul Wall, The Federation, E-40, and others.
2010-present Since 2010, James has focused on songwriting and producing music for others. He has written songs with and for Jason Derulo, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Snoop Dogg, Christina Aguilera, Timbaland, Afrojack, Nelly, Akon, Wiz Khalifa, Sean Kingston, Ty Dolla $ign, Nicky Jam, Will Smith, and G-Eazy. In 2016, James co-wrote "Don't You Need Somebody" for RedOne. The same year, Luis Fonsi and Erika Ender brought James on to help with remixing their Spanish-language song "Despacito Remix," featuring Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee. James, whose mother's family is of Mexican heritage, has written songs for Latin artists. The English language remix that James worked on was intended to expand the appeal of the original song which had already been a success. Justin Bieber was brought on to sing on the remix.
"Despacito" was released in April 2017 and received international attention, topping charts in 47 countries. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-tying 16 weeks and topped the Latin 100 for a record-breaking 52 weeks. The song was nominated for three Grammys in 2018: Best Song, Best Record, and Best Pop-Duo. The song won the Best Urban Fusion/Performance award at the 2018 Latin Grammys. The song was also nominated for and won awards at the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and Billboard Latin Music Awards.
James became part of the producer management division of The Core Entertainment in 2023. The same year he wrote the song "Religiously" for country musician Bailey Zimmerman. The song peaked at No.1 on the Canada Country Billboard Chart and US Country Airplay, as well as receiving an ARIA Gold certification.
Discography With Scapegoat Wax
Luxurious (1999) Okeeblow (2001) SWAX (2002) Atomic Slam (2022)
With One Block Radius
Long Story Short 2005 One Block Radius 2008
Select guest appearances YearTitleArtist(s)Album2006"I Wear My Sunglasses at Night”The Federation feat. E-402007"Another Day”LuckyiamMost Likely to Succeed"Half a Dream”Mr. J MedeirosOf Gods and Girls2008"Next to You”Mike JonesThe Voice"The Time”The GrouchShow You the World2009"Get That Money”Far East MovementAnimal"I Grind”Paul WallFast Life"Denial”The Grouch and ElighSay G&E2010"Fantasy Girl”Baby BashBashtown"Contact”Drop City Yacht Club"Rick Rock Horns”E-40Revenue Retrivin’: Day Shift"New Year's Eve”Snoop Dogg"Suffocate”ElighGrey Crow2011"Fried" feat. Tech N9neE-40Revenue Retrievin’: Graveyard Shift"El Lay”Snoop DoggDoggumentary"Dancing on My Own”Pixie LottYoung Foolish Happy"Test of Time”Zion I and The GrouchHeroes in the Healing of a Nation"Elevator Love”The Rej3ctz2016"Crack the Combination”Baby BashDon't Panic It's Organic2021"Hi Lo”Paul WallHall of Fame Hustler"Run It Up"SeebSad in Scandinavia
Select writing/production credits YearGroupSongAlbumRole2008Baby Bash"What is it" feat. Sean KingstonCycloneWriterMike Jones"Next to You”Writer2009MoZella"Four Leaf Clover”Belle IslandProducer"Freezing”"Let's Stop Calling it Love”"Uh-Uh”Producer / Vocals2011Iyaz"Pretty Girls" feat. Travie McCoyWriter2012Cover Drive"Lick Ya Down”Bajan StyleWriterChris Rene"Young Homie”I’m Right HereProducer2013Fantasia"In Deep”Side Effects of YouWriterSean Kingston"Back 2 Life (Live it Up)" feat. T.I.Back 2 Life"Bomba”"How We Survive" feat. Busta Rhymes"Ordinary Girl”2014Enrique Iglesias"Heart Attack”Sex and LoveWriter"I’m a Freak" feat. Pitbull"Let Me Be your Lover" feat. Pitbull"Only a Woman”"Still your King”"There Goes my Baby" feat. Flo Rida"You and I”"Turn the Night Up"Jason Derulo"With the Lights on”Tattoos/Talk DirtyWriter2015The Janoskians"MoodSwings”WriterSean Paul"Bust It”The Perfect Guy Motion Picture SoundtrackWriterNicky Jam and Enrique Iglesias"Forgiveness" (El Perdon)WriterAkon"Burning Alive”WriterEmpire Season 2"Runnin”Writer2016Jay Sean feat. Sean Paul"You Make My Love Go”WriterRed One feat. Enrique Iglesias, Shaggy, R. City, Seerayah"Don't You Need Somebody"WriterAfrojack feat. Ty Dolla $ign"Gone”WriterDirty Heads"So Long”WriterMarteen"Draymond”Writer2017Nelly"Sounds Good to Me”WriterJack & Jack"All Weekend Long”WriterLuis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber"Despacito Remix"WriterEnrique Iglesias feat. Sean Paul"Subeme la Radio (Remix)”Writer2018Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull"Move to Miami”WriterMarteen"Nothankyou”NOTHANKYOU.Writer"Left to Right""Sriracha""Two Days""We Cool"Nicky Jam feat. Will Smith, Era Istrefi"Live it Up"WriterSublime with Rome"Wicked Heart"Writer2019Reiji Kawaguchi"Departure"Writer2023Bailey Zimmerman"Religiously"Religiously. The Album.Writer"Get to Gettin' Gone"
Awards and nominations Grammy Awards
|rowspan="3"|2018 |rowspan="3"|"Despacito Remix" (featuring Justin Bieber) |Song of the Year
|Record of the Year
|Best Pop Duo
Latin Grammy Awards
|rowspan="1"|2017 |rowspan="1"|"Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber) |Best Urban Fusion/Performance
American Music Awards
|rowspan="2"|2017 |rowspan="2"|"Despacito Remix" (featuring Justin Bieber) |Collaboration of the Year
|Favorite Pop/Rock Song
Billboard Music Awards
|rowspan="6"|2018 |rowspan="6"|"Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber) |Top 100 Song
|Top Selling Song
|Top Streaming Song (Audio)
|Top Streaming Song (Video)
|Top Collaboration
|Top Latin Song
Billboard Latin Music Awards
|rowspan="6"|2018 |rowspan="6"|"Despacito Remix" (featuring Justin Bieber) |Hot Latin Song of the Year
|Hot Latin Song of the Year
|Airplay Song of the Year
|Digital Song of the Year
|Streaming Song of the Year
|Latin Pop Song of the Year
References
External links