James Otto Nets First No. 1

James Otto photo by Kristin Barlowe, courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

May 6, 2008 — The country singles charts have shifted into Otto-matic pilot.

James Otto notched the top spot this week on both the Radio & Records and the Mediabase country singles charts with "Just Got Started Lovin’ You." It’s the first single James released in a deal with Warner Bros. Records and provides a nice turn-around to his career, which stalled after his first album was released by another label. Ironically, this week marks exactly four years since that debut CD came out.

"I am still in shock," James says of his accomplishment. "As a songwriter, this is something you dream about. I spent the last five years making this album, and to see the fans requesting the single and radio programmers playing it is the biggest reward of all."

His success is becoming costly, however. As he reaches new levels in the charts, James has been handing out gifts to the people behind his success.

"When I hit the Top 20 with this single, I came into the Warner Bros. offices with a bottle of champagne," he recalls. "Now that I’ve hit No. 1, I’m going to have to think of something else to top the champagne."

James will likely be feeling the love in Nashville even outside of his record company. He has a date May 20 at the Wildhorse Saloon in Music City, and it’s likely to be attended by plenty of well-wishers. Then on June 8, he’ll play for thousands of fans at LP Field during the final concert of the CMA Music Festival. Joining him on the bill that night will be Dwight Yoakam, Sara Evans, Randy Travis, Billy Ray Cyrus and Bucky Covington.