James Alan Shelton (born 3 November 1960, in Kingsport) was an American bluegrass guitarist and singer. Raised in Gate City, Virginia, he began his career at age 12 after being inspired by a Ralph Stanley performance. Shelton developed a guitar style that combined George Shuffler's crosspicking with Doc Watson's flatpicking and blues finger-style techniques. He gained recognition as a member of the Clinch Mountain Boys and also performed with the Flint Hill band. His recording career featured ten solo albums, including Blue in the Blue Ridge (1992), Clinch Mountain Guitar (1995), Song for Greta (2002), and Copper Creek Sessions (2012). He established a reputation as a prominent figure in the bluegrass genre. Shelton resided in Church Hill, Tennessee, with his wife Greta until his death in Kingsport on 3 June 2014.
