James Thatcher began his career on horn in Mexico City at age 16. His uncle, Gerald Thatcher, was principal horn with the National Symphony of Mexico. During college, James worked and recorded with the Utah Symphony. He then auditioned and won a job with the Phoenix Symphony, Eduardo Mata, conductor. Returning home, he won an audition with the Municipal Arts orchestra of Los Angeles and also played principal horn with the orchestras of the Royal Danish Ballet, American Ballet, Ukrainian Folk Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet. After auditioning for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he worked there from 1977-1981. Thanks to his teacher, Vincent DeRosa, James entered the Hollywood recording world which became his major occupation for the next 40 years. He played on over 4000 projects including principal horn on around 3000 motion pictures with composers like John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner.  Due to his love for classical music, James continued playing principal horn with the Pacific Symphony, Pasadena Symphony and New West Symphony. It was at the New West Symphony that he met his lifelong friend, Charles Stegeman, concertmaster. Charles invited him to the Sunflower Festival, St. Barts and the Buzzards Bay Festivals. James has also played guest principal and soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony, London Symphony, London Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Vienna Chamber Orchestra. He also gives clinics and conducts the Brass /Percussion ensembles of the Danish National Orchestra, Corno International Brass Conference in Poland and New England Conservatory in Boston. James' other notable teachers were Fred Fox, Tom Greer, Don Peterson and Hermann Baumann. His former students include Mark Almond (Principal Horn, Chicago Symphony), Michael Winter (Associate Principal Horn, Boston Symphony), J. Greg Miller (Principal Horn, US Army Field Band) and Ben Jabar (Principal Horn, San Diego Symphony).