JAMES4™ is a young men’s quartet that loves to spread the sunlight of God’s love through uplifting music. We specialize in a capella vocal music, performing arrangements on new and familiar gospel melodies. People love the rich harmonies and blend that our group has developed, and we love every minute of sharing these songs. Music has a special power in lifting the mind closer to God, and our prayer is that the songs we share will help you “draw nigh to God,” so that He will, in turn “draw nigh to you.” James 4:8.
The name of our group, JAMES4™, is an acronym from the names of our members: Joel Nedley, Allen Nedley, Michael Lombart, and Erwin Nanasi. The last letter represents the most important Person, the One we sing for: our Savior.
How it began
It all started at a small school in Northern California called Weimar College. Four of us classmates got together with a teacher on a Saturday afternoon to do some off-season caroling, singing gospel songs door-to-door. By the end of the day, we had an invitation to sing at someone’s church and that’s when we realized this was the beginning of something special.
What began as a spur-of-the-moment activity turned into a unique musical ministry. Invitations to sing began coming in, and the four of us started working on a repertoire. As we learned the songs, our group also began developing a distinctive sound, our voices blending in tight, rich harmonies. Somewhere along the way, we hit upon the name JAMES4, taken from the initials of our first names and the Saviour who we sing for, and the name instantly stuck.
Since that first Saturday afternoon, our quartet has been privileged to sing for groups across the country, sharing the gospel through the musical gifts God has blessed us with. When people began asking if we had a CD, we went to work recording, with the help of Nedley Publishing. Now our ministry continues to grow as the songs we share go home with people on the new album entitled Sonlight.
There are exciting things in store for the future, and perhaps we can look forward to singing at a place somewhere near you! We believe in the power of uplifting, Christ-centered music, and the words of a Christian author say it best: “Song is a weapon that we can always use against discouragement. As we thus open the heart to the sunlight of the Saviour’s presence, we shall have health and His blessing.” Ministry of Healing, p. 254.