James Olar Nash Jr. was born weighing 7 pounds on March 9, 1958 in Sunflower, Missisippi to a young married couple, James O. Nash and Eunice Pearl (Robinson) Nash. He was their first born.

From the beginning, God had plans that this child would be special. Deaf since childhood, James was always independent, living away from home while attending and making achievements at Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint, Michigan. There, he learned how to live and embrace a world full of sound.

After graduation, he headed to Chicago to live with a beloved aunt before moving on to adventures in Wisconsin. He finally decided that he enjoyed the sunshine and blue skies of San Antonio, Texas.

He liked fast cars, beautiful women, sports, orange soda, loyal friends and playing his music loud enough to feel the beat. People of all races – both hearing and those in the deaf community – were drawn to his charismatic personality, his infectious smile and great sense of humor.