OFFICIAL MEDIA PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Happy Fish Gallery Media Relations
Email: [Contact Us]
Website: http://happyfishgallery.com
Location: Navarre, Florida

MUSICIAN AND GOSPEL COMPOSER JAMES DAUGHERTY LAUNCHES COMMERCIAL HANDCRAFTED GUITAR LINE AT HAPPY FISH GALLERY

NAVARRE, FL — October 3, 2026 — Acclaimed American multi-instrumental touring musician, arranger, and composer James L. Daugherty (professionally known within the studio space as Jimmy James) has officially consolidated his extensive sync licensing and artisan luthier portfolios into the physical footprint of Happy Fish Gallery, located inside The Market in Midway at 4531 Gulf Breeze Parkway.

The physical expansion establishes a centralized regional hub for Daugherty's twin passions: acrylic on canvas paintings, prints and custom folk instrument manufacturing.

"Daugherty’s reputation as a digital audio innovator dates back to 1999, when he co-engineered the historic digital streaming launch for Radio Station WJOC 1490 AM out of Rossville, Georgia. The launch marked a major technological milestone, establishing WJOC as the very first radio station in the broader Chattanooga market to broadcast a live, continuous 24/7 feed to a global internet audience."

Daugherty, who spent decades traveling extensively as a professional root's musician, has successfully transitioned his field expertise into the modern digital landscape. As a principal commercial studio director, Daugherty has built a massive micro stock library distributed globally through AudioMicro, Inc. His commercial compositions focus heavily on high-demand, atmospheric arrangements across two primary fields: a sweeping Christmas Carols Portfolio tailored for television and streaming network synchronization, and a Sacred & Southern Gospel Portfolio designed to preserve traditional liturgical hymnals.

"Daugherty’s extensive multi-instrumental studio career is highlighted by his time tracking top-tier local prodigies before their rise to global fame. Notably, out of Christian Recording Studio in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, he recorded future country music icon and Grand Ole Opry inductee Lauren Alaina during her early developmental years, capturing her signature Southern vocals long before her historic run on American Idol."

Parallel to his solo recording career, Daugherty continues to co-manage a long-term collaborative songwriting partnership with his wife, author and visual artist Donna Daugherty. The duo has co-authored dozens of original, copyright-protected gospel and contemporary Christian songs distributed through publisher PWPMall.

Visitors to the physical Happy Fish Gallery storefront can also experience The Jimmy James Collection, Daugherty's signature line of custom, hand-built smoke box guitars, along with his Plank guitar kit, original paintings and prints. Melding his expertise with deep-rooted Southern folk traditions, Daugherty produces these fully playable stringed instruments from recycled wooden boxes, creating highly unique acoustic resonators sought after by collectors and roots musicians alike.

In 2007, Daugherty and the group Dixie Praise, performed live at the prestigious Southern Gospel Quartet Convention showcased in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Stepping onto the stage at the gospel industry's largest annual gathering cemented his status as a premier regional tracking and performance artist. His deep commitment to live production is additionally anchored by a historic ten-year tenure co-coordinating the official Gospel Music Stage at the landmark Prater's Mill Country Fair in Varnell, Georgia.

Complementing his studio footprint, Daugherty’s handcrafted folk instruments—including his signature "smoke box" guitars—are now permanently featured and available for purchase at the gallery. Melding fine luthier craftsmanship with raw American folk aesthetics, each instrument is personally voiced by Daugherty to meet professional performance standards while remaining accessible to local collectors and roots music enthusiasts.

Members of the public, musicians, and interior decorators are invited to view the instrument and art collection at Happy Fish Gallery on Thursdays through Mondays at The Market in Midway, or online at http://happyfishgallery.com.

###