James I. Elliott

Biography

James Isaac Elliott joined the Belmont faculty in 1990 teaching Music Publishing. When the Songwriting Department was launched in 2007, he was named Chair. Elliott worked closely with industry partners to develop the curriculum and hire award-winning songwriters to teach the classes. The success of the major has led to partnerships with Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music Publishing and The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Professor Elliott has also developed and taught on study abroad trips to Australia, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Also an award-winning songwriter, Elliott’s compositions have been recorded by Steven Curtis Chapman, The Oak Ridge Boys, Newsong, Shenandoah, Ginny Owens, Mark Schultz Russ Lee, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Gold City, Larry Stephenson, Laruen Talley, The Blackwood Brothers, Triona and others. His honors include a Dove Award and multiple awards from ASCAP, American Songwriter Magazine and the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Elliott’s songs have been included on 5 Grammy Award winning albums. He’s co-written 13 Top Ten radio singles and 6 number ones including “The Change,” “Hold On To Jesus” and “His Eyes” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Before joining the Belmont Faculty Elliott was a writer/producer for several shows on the cable television channel, TNN (The Nashville Network). He interviewed and produced stories on Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Robert Duvall, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Kris Kristofferson, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, Larry Sparks, Little Jimmy Dickens, Roy Acuff, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Faron Young, Loretta Lynn, Owen Bradley, Amy Grant, Mike Curb and others.

Elliott’s career in the music business also included stints as road manger, stage manager and merchandise manager for several artists including Michael Martin Murphy, POCO and The Joe English Band. Sparrow Records signed Elliott as a staff songwriter for their Birdwing Music division (Captiol CMG). Elliott is co-author of the book God’s Neighborhood, with Scott Roley.