James Snyder (September 17, 1934 – December 11, 2020) was an American country singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Wheeling, West Virginia who charted on the country and western music billboards in the 1960s and 1970s.[1] and gained recognition for his work on the West coast country music scene, leading the house band at North Hollywood's historic Palomino Club.[2] He became a prominent figurehead on the LA country scene during the 1970s, with strong influence.[3] Snyder played the Grand Ole Opry in May 1970 with his biggest hit, “The Chicago Story.”[4] Jimmy Snyder and the Palomino Riders won their first ACM (Academy of Country Music) award in 1980 for “Best Non-Touring Country Band".
In February 1970, he was nominated "Most Promising Artist of the Year" by Record News, Cashbox, and Billboard Magazine. Snyder soon found himself playing with Elvis Presley, appearing on several of his West Coast performances. Elvis Presley used to joke that Snyder actually sang the Presley song "Memories" on the record, because of Snyder's uncanny ability to imitate the singer's voice. Snyder worked with countless country music greats, including longtime friends Merle Haggard, with whom he recorded "Haggard State of Mind," and Willie Nelson. He penned the Buck Owens tune "All I Want For Christmas Is My Daddy" (Capitol Records) as well as Kay Adams' "Husband Stealer" at Tower Records. In recent years, Leon Russell invited Snyder to sing on "He'll Have To Go" for the Legend In My Time: Hank Wilson Vol. III album, released by Leon Russell in 1998.[5] Russell was Snyder's piano player at the Rag Doll Club in North Hollywood.
Snyder died on December 11, 2020, at the age of 86.[6][7]