James Anthony Sullivan was born in Nebraska on August 13, 1939,[1][2][3] the seventh son of a blue collar Irish-American family that relocated to San Diego, California, during World War II.

[1] In high school, Sullivan was a nascent guitar player and the quarterback of the varsity football team, and he met his future wife, Barbara, whom he married in 1960.

[1] In 1969, Sullivan released the album U.F.O., recorded with keyboardist Don Randi, drummer Earl Palmer, and bassist Jimmy Bond, all members of the Wrecking Crew.

Although its psychedelic country-folk stylings drew parallels to Gene Clark and Joe South, the album made little impact, nor did a remixed version released by Century City Records in 1970.

Sullivan was seen the following day some 26 miles (42 km) south of Santa Rosa, near Puerto de Luna, at a remote ranch owned by the Gennitti family.

[4] Over the years, Sullivan's disappearance has been variously attributed to suicide, foul play involving the police or the Mafia, and alien abduction.