Amelia
Jim St. James
Song on the life of Amelia Earhart.
Jim St. James – American Singer-Songwriter | Americana • Acoustic Folk • Live Performer
Jim St. James is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, and live performer whose independent career spans more than thirty-five years. From his roots in Northwest Indiana to Nashville, Tennessee, St. James has written, recorded, and performed original music while building audiences throughout the United States, Canada and beyond.
Choosing an independent path rather than the traditional major-label route, St. James built his career one song, one performance, and one audience at a time. His music has taken him from intimate listening rooms and songwriter festivals to theaters, wineries, yacht clubs, community events, concert stages, and thousands of live performances spanning more than three decades.
His signature recording, “Caroline,” reached #1 on the national Roots Music Report Americana Chart and remained on the chart for twelve consecutive weeks. During its chart run, “Caroline” appeared alongside and charted past recordings by acclaimed Americana artists including Lyle Lovett, Lori McKenna, Jack Ingram, Pat Green, Jason Boland, and Walt Wilkins, reflecting strong national support from independent Americana radio.
St. James also achieved significant recognition through pioneering independent music platforms. On SoundClick, “Caroline” reached the Top 100 among 18,945 songs in the Acoustic Folk category, peaking at #94, and reached #588 among 142,585 songs in the Overall Acoustic category. On ReverbNation, St. James earned multiple #1 Nashville rankings, reached career highs of #6 National and #6 Global, and achieved official Top 10 recognition. More than a decade later, his music continues to maintain competitive national and global rankings on the platform.
Among St. James’ most historically significant compositions is “Amelia,” his biographical song about aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. The recording is featured on the official Amelia Earhart website, establishing an enduring connection between the composition and the historical legacy that inspired it.
The National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York, has confirmed that “Amelia” will be used in connection with its Amelia Earhart exhibit, with St. James granting the institution permission to use the recording. The National Women’s Hall of Fame is the nation’s first and oldest nonprofit organization and museum dedicated to honoring and celebrating the achievements of distinguished American women.
In Atchison, Kansas—Amelia Earhart’s birthplace—the Atchison County Historical Society requested a copy of “Amelia” for its historical audio collection, alongside Amelia-related holdings that include recorded interviews with Earhart’s sister, Muriel.
The Air League in London, England, has also confirmed plans to include “Amelia” in the background of a video slideshow about Earhart within a series of aviation-history courses being developed for its free online learning platform for young people across the United Kingdom. St. James has provided the recording and granted permission for this educational use.
These developments add historical and educational dimensions to a career built independently over decades. St. James’ body of work reflects both the traditions of American singer-songwriters and a sustained commitment to documenting people, places, experiences, and stories through original music.
Throughout his career, Jim St. James has become a familiar and respected presence in the American independent music community. His career has been defined not by a single moment, but by decades of consistency, perseverance, live performance, and an unwavering commitment to original music.
Today, St. James continues to write, record, release, and perform original music while hosting his Variety Show at The Green Room at the Studio in LaPorte, Indiana. More than three decades after beginning his professional journey, he remains an active singer-songwriter and performer whose work connects a lifetime in American independent music with an expanding connection to historical preservation and education.
To reach Jim St. James directly, call (219)379-2193
or email jimstjames.jsj@gmail.com
Listen to Jim's original song, 'Amelia' here on the music page or on the official site of the famous aviatrix, Amelia Earhart.
Click to visit the Official site of Amelia Earhart
*The first two sentences of the song, ‘Amelia’ are Earhart’s own words from her poem, ‘Courage', first published in Survey Graphic magazine in 1928.
Photos courtesy of © Family of Amelia Earhart c/o CMG Worldwide
A New Search for Amelia Earhart — October 2026
Nearly 90 years after Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the central Pacific, a new expedition may bring investigators closer to an answer.
On October 7, 2026, a 16-member archaeological expedition is scheduled to depart Tarawa, Kiribati, for remote Nikumaroro Island to investigate the Taraia Object — an unexplained anomaly lying beneath the shallow waters and sediment of the island's lagoon.
The object was first recognized in satellite imagery in 2020 by researcher Michael Ashmore. Subsequent investigation by the Archaeological Legacy Institute found the same feature in numerous satellite images, 2017 drone footage and a 2001 TIGHAR helicopter video. Researchers also believe an object may be visible near the same location in aerial photographs taken in 1938 — only a year after Earhart disappeared.
The anomaly is particularly intriguing because its apparent dimensions are consistent with the fuselage and tail section of a Lockheed Model 10E Electra, the type of aircraft Earhart was flying on her final journey. Researchers caution, however, that the Taraia Object has never been physically examined and its identity remains unknown.
The 2026 expedition intends to change that. After reaching Nikumaroro, archaeologists plan to carefully remove lagoon sediment with a hydraulic dredge and directly examine the object. Aircraft aluminum, structural characteristics and rivet patterns consistent with Earhart's Electra could provide the first physical evidence identifying the wreckage. If confirmed, a full archaeological excavation is planned for 2027.
The search carries an extraordinary historical connection: Purdue University, where Earhart served as a counselor and aviation adviser from 1935 until her disappearance, is participating in the effort. Purdue Research Foundation helped make Earhart's famous "Flying Laboratory" possible nearly nine decades ago.
Whether the Taraia Object proves to be Earhart's aircraft or something entirely different, October's expedition represents a rare opportunity to scientifically test one of the enduring theories surrounding the disappearance of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan.
The mystery that began in 1937 may finally be approaching an answer.
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Live from the Stage
NEW! From late nights at the local haunts to spotlight moments on stages across the country, these performances capture the raw, unfiltered spirit of Jim St. James in his element. Each set tells a story, carried by seasoned vocals, a lifetime of grit, and a soul that refuses to quit.
Whether you're an old friend or a first-time listener, welcome to a living journal of songs, sweat, and soul. Visit the "Fan & archive" page to access!
Catch a Live Show
The road never really ends—it just changes scenery. Whether it’s a packed brewery, a quiet listening room, or an open sky festival, each show brings its own pulse. No backing tracks. No looping. No vocalizers. No pretense. Just real songs, real stories, and the kind of moments that stick with you long after the lights go down.
Scroll down to find out where Jim St. James is performing next. Come early, stay late, and don’t be surprised if you hear a song that feels like it was written just for you.
Jim St. James – Legacy Performance Timeline
Jim St. James didn’t just play music — he built a life on the road and the stories behind it.
Cruising down the highways in his 1989 Lincoln Limo Campinental, he blazed a path through the sun-scorched cafés of Arizona to the humid dive bars of Florida, from Pensacola’s beach stage to Key West, his music carried across borders and back again.
He’s played in Texas roadhouses, Mississippi juke joints, East coast Hotels, New Orleans tourist spots, and South Dakota art fairs. He lit up Alabama bars and community centers, Kentucky festivals, California patios, Florida breweries, Missouri riversides, and Indiana’s backyards — always bringing the song home.
But the road didn’t stop in America. He sang in England’s pubs, played to youth in Poland’s hostels, filled quiet air in Austria, and performed intimate sets in Italy — where the cobblestones echoed back in harmony.
When Jim's mother fell ill in 2022, touring was put on hiatus as he is her caregiver, and as of this writing, still is, but you can catch him performing, in NW Indiana and SW Michigan on a regular basis and hosting the Variety Show Open Mic and Jam at the all new Green Room at the Studio every Sunday in historic downtown LaPorte, IN. 5 to 8 PM CST. Check the music schedule above for specific performancs.