Marion James

Marion Agness James (October 8, 1934 – December 31, 2015) was an American blues singer and songwriter. She was considered Nashville's "Queen of the Blues". Her career spanned 60 years, and she had a hit with a song she wrote, "That's My Man".

A flamboyant character, James was known to sign her name adding "The Blues Queen" and often wore a tiara at her live performances.

Life and career James was born into a musical family in Nashville, Tennessee. Her mother was the pianist at her local church, her sister sang with the Clara Ward Singers, and some of her cousins were professional musicians. James herself sought inspiration in listening to blues singers at vaudeville shows and from her mother's record collection. In 1966, James had a top ten hit single with "That's My Man", a song she composed, released by Excello Records. In 2013, she recorded "Back in the Day" at Washington's Jefferson Street Sound recording studios.