James Patrick Sheppard (born May 8, 1961) is an American musician.

He was the bassist and founding member of the progressive metal band, Nevermore, and its predecessor, Sanctuary.

[1][2] He and singer Warrel Dane are certified chefs, and formerly owned an Italian restaurant in Seattle.

Sheppard underwent an operation in 2011 to remove a benign brain tumour.

[4] In 2019, after the death of Warrel Dane, Sheppard started a musical project called Dead Heart Collective, in which he plays the guitar.