Aside from a career as a materials scientist, Seattle-based singer/songwriter, James Dean Cotton, is best known for performances at local coffeeshops and participation in the Northwest Folklife Festival. He's also one half of the local neo-folk band, ZuCo. Originally from Missouri, his style draws heavily on the singer-songwriters of the 1970's, such as James Taylor, Neil Young and Paul Simon, fusing native bluegrass with country, rock, jazz and blues elements.  His song, "Still My Little Home Town," recounts the struggles of small town America, and his most recent release, "Praying for Rain", discusses the drought and wildfires of unprecedented proportions seen in the recent years.  JD has six studio albums and is currently writing the next while producing other artists. He also serves on the Board of Directors of 'Songwriters in Seattle', a Puget Sound-based nonprofit organization of more than 4,000 members that exists to assist songwriters in developing their craft and finding venues to be heard.