James Radomski received Bachelor degrees in East Asian Studies and Music, a Master's Degree in Ethnomusicology and a Ph.D. in Musicology.

From 1976 to 1979 he taught English at Gadjah Mada University and Music at the Akademi Musik in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, while on a fellowship from the Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association. He has received grants from the Del Amo and Fulbright Foundations for research in Spain.

His book, Manuel García (1775-1832), a biographical study of the tenor for whom Rossini wrote Il barbiere di Siviglia, was published by Oxford University Press in 2000 and in a Spanish translation by the Instituto Complutense de Musicología in 2002. In 2002 he produced the world premiere recording of works by Trinidad Huerta (1800-1874) which featured CSUSB guitar instructor, Stuart Green. He is currently working with his sister, Teresa Radomski (Wake Forest University), on the publication of Manuel García's opera, L'isola disabitata, for A-R Editions.