American Idol Alum Casey James Signs With APA

New York, NY (Top40 Charts) APA Nashville has signed singer-songwriter , who finished in third place on the ninth season of Fox's American Idol in 2010. The Texas native will independently release album Strip It Down today, June 9.

"I've been searching for a long time to find the right group of people to work with, and I'm extremely excited and honored to have finally built my team," James said in a statement. "It's a huge blessing to feel confident and comfortable with management and an agency, and I'm thankful to know that I'm in capable hands that are going to work as hard as I do to move my career forward."

Citing Albert King, Tab Benoit and ZZ Top as inspirations for his blues-inflected album, James is currently on tour in the U.S., which includes an album release party today, June 9 at Nashville's City Winery.

"We're thrilled to welcome Casey James to the APA Nashville family," agency partner and head of concerts Steve Lassiter said in a statement. "His authentic connection with the audience is extraordinary, and we're excited to help him take his career to the next level."

Upcoming Tour Dates:
June 09 - Nashville, Tenn. - City Winery
June 16 - Eldon, Mo. - Shawnee Bluff Winery & Vineyards
June 17 - Bluffton, Ind. - Kehoe Park
June 29 - Batesville, Ind. - Bacon Blues and Brew Music and Arts Festival
Aug. 12 - Charlotte, N.C. - Private Event
Aug. 26 - Le Roy, N.Y. - Jam at the Ridge
Sep. 09 - Castlewood, Va. - Russell County Fair and Horse Show
Sep. 16 - Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. - Private Event
Oct. 07 - Bijou, Calif. - Private Event
For more information and a complete list of tour dates, visit www.caseyjamesofficial.com.