Jimi Jamison facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jimi Jamison
Jamison performing at the Rainbow
Background information
Birth name	Jimmy Wayne Jamison
Also known as	Jimi Jamison, Jim Jamison, Jamo
Born	(1951-08-23)August 23, 1951 Durant, Mississippi, U.S.
Origin	Raleigh, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	September 1, 2014(2014-09-01) (aged 63) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Rock hard rock AOR pop rock heavy metal country
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1967–2014
Labels	Scotti Bros. Frontiers Epic A&M ATCO

Jimmy Wayne Jamison (born August 23, 1951 – died September 1, 2014) was an American singer. Most people knew him as Jimi Jamison. He became famous as the lead singer for rock bands like Target, Cobra, and Survivor.

With Survivor, from 1984 to 1989, he sang hit songs. These included "Burning Heart" from the movie Rocky IV. He also sang "The Moment of Truth" from The Karate Kid. Other popular Survivor songs he sang were "I Can't Hold Back", "High On You", "The Search Is Over" and "Is This Love". Jimi Jamison rejoined Survivor in 2000 and stayed until 2006. He joined them again in 2011. He was also known for helping write and sing the theme song "I'm Always Here" for the 1990s TV show Baywatch.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Jimmy Wayne Jamison was born in Durant, Mississippi. However, he always felt like a native of Memphis, Tennessee. He and his mother moved there when he was just one day old. As a teenager, he grew up listening to Blues-Rock and Soul music. He taught himself how to play the guitar and piano. Jimi's first public performance was "Day Tripper" by The Beatles. He sang this song in middle school in the mid-1960s.

First Band: The Debuts

Jimi started playing in an R&B band called The Debuts. He was only 12 years old at the time. This was his first experience with success. While they were students at Messick High School, the band had a hit song. It was called "If I Cry" and came out in 1968. The famous songwriter Wayne Carson wrote the song. Atlantic Records signed the teenage band. They toured with popular artists like Roy Orbison and Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels. The band broke up in 1969.

Rocking with Target

After The Debuts, Jamison joined guitarist Buddy Davis and Cathey. They formed the southern rock band Target in the mid-1970s. The band became very popular locally. They played live shows all the time. Target released two albums: Target (1976) and Captured (1977). These albums were released on A&M Records. They had singles like "Are you Ready" and "Let Me Live". Target opened concerts for big bands such as Black Sabbath, Boston, and KISS.

Joining Cobra

In 1982, Jamison became the lead singer for the band Cobra. The band included guitarist Mandy Meyer, guitarist/keyboardist Jack Holder, bassist Tommy Keiser, and drummer Jeff Klaven. Cobra quickly became popular in Memphis. They signed with Epic Records. The group released one album called First Strike in 1983. The British music magazine Kerrang! named it the number one import album. The song "Blood On Your Money" even got played on MTV. Cobra toured the United States. They opened for bands like Quiet Riot and Nazareth. The band broke up at the end of 1983.

Becoming a Survivor

After Cobra ended in 1984, Jimi Jamison was asked to join Survivor. Survivor was famous for their hit song "Eye of the Tiger" from 1982. The band's original singer, Dave Bickler, had left due to vocal cord problems. Jimi Jamison joined after a successful tryout. He brought new energy to the band.

Big Hits with Survivor

Jimi's first song with Survivor was "The Moment of Truth". This song was the theme for The Karate Kid movie. It reached number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in July 1984.

Jamison's first full album with Survivor was Vital Signs, released in 1984. This album was a huge success. It reached number 16 on the Billboard Album Chart. It sold over a million copies, earning a platinum award. The album had several hit singles:

• "High on You" reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
• "I Can't Hold Back" reached number 13 on the singles chart and number 1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart. Jimi's strong vocals and good looks helped the music video get a lot of play on MTV.
• "The Search Is Over" reached number 4 on the singles chart and number 1 on the adult contemporary chart.

In 1985, Survivor was asked to create another theme song for a Rocky movie. They recorded "Burning Heart" for Rocky IV. This song became another huge hit. In early 1986, it peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

More Albums and Tours

Jamison's second album with Survivor was When Seconds Count, released in 1986. It included the hit single "Is This Love", which reached number 9 on the singles chart. The album sold over 500,000 copies, earning a gold award. Jimi also helped write songs for this album, including "Man Against the World".

Survivor released their last album of the 1980s, Too Hot to Sleep, in 1988. Jimi Jamison said this was his favorite album with Survivor. However, it did not sell as well as their earlier albums.

Solo Career and Baywatch

In 1989, Jimi Jamison sang his own version of "Ever Since the World Began". This song was for the Sylvester Stallone film Lock Up. That same year, he was invited to join Deep Purple, but he decided to focus on his solo music instead.

Jimi's first solo album, When Love Comes Down, came out in 1991. Songs from this album, "Rock Hard" and "Taste of Love", were used in episodes of Baywatch. His connection with Baywatch grew stronger that year. He helped write and perform "I'm Always Here", the show's famous theme song. This song became very popular and was used as the Baywatch theme until 2001.

For a while, Jimi toured with his own band, sometimes calling it "Jimi Jamison's Survivor". This led to some legal issues with other members of Survivor. However, he continued to perform under that name until 1999. His solo album Empires (1999) included a new version of "I'm Always Here".

Returning to Survivor

Jamison rejoined Survivor in March 2000. In 2002, the band released "Christmas is Here". This song reached number 6 on the Christmas music charts. In 2005, Jimi and the band appeared in a Starbucks commercial. They made a funny version of "Eye of the Tiger", which earned them an Emmy Nomination.

In April 2006, Jamison and Survivor released the album Reach. This was their first new album in 18 years. Jimi left the band shortly after its release, on July 14, 2006.

More Solo Work and Collaborations

Jimi Jamison released another solo album, Crossroads Moment, in 2008. His former Survivor bandmate Jim Peterik produced the album. He continued to tour in places like Brazil, Chile, and Spain. In 2011, Jamison worked with Toto singer Bobby Kimball on an album called Kimball Jamison. They shared lead vocals on songs written by famous rock songwriters.

Jimi also formed a band called One Man's Trash. They released the album History in 2011.

Final Time with Survivor

Jamison (left) with Survivor in 2013

Jamison reunited with Survivor again in 2011. In November of that year, he sang "Eye of the Tiger" for boxer Manny Pacquiao's entrance into the boxing ring. He performed this song for the boxer's fights multiple times.

In 2013, it was announced that Survivor's original singer, Dave Bickler, would also rejoin the band. Jimi Jamison continued to tour with Survivor. He remained with the band until his death in 2014.

Jimi Jamison's last show was on August 30, 2014, in Morgan Hill, California. He performed with Survivor at a benefit concert.

Collaborations and Background Vocals

Throughout his career, Jimi Jamison sang background vocals for many bands and artists. He worked with ZZ Top on their 1983 album Eliminator. Billy Gibbons, ZZ Top's frontman, even called Jamison the "fourth member" of the group.

Jimi also sang vocals for Joe Walsh on several albums. He was a co-lead singer with Walsh on the 1991 single "All of a Sudden". This song reached number 13 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. He also worked with Heart guitarist Howard Leese on his solo album.

In 2011, Jamison recorded a charity single called "One Family". He sang with a group of all-star musicians called United Rockers 4 U.

Style and Legacy

Jamison performing in 2012

Jimi Jamison was highly praised for his amazing singing voice. Sound engineer Terry Manning said, "He never needed it [pitch editing]. He could hold pitch. He could sing vibrato when needed. He could sing straight when needed. He could do whatever you needed." Famous DJ Casey Kasem even called him "The Voice."

Jimi Jamison is an Honorary Member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine described him as "a true Rock and Roll Legend."

Personal Life and Death

Jimi Jamison married Brenda Fay Mason in 1972. They had a daughter named Amy. They divorced in 1983. Jamison then married Deborah Teal in 1985. They had two more children, James and Lacy. Jamison and Teal separated in 1999. When he wasn't traveling or performing, Jimi enjoyed gardening, playing sports like tennis and golf, and spending time with his family.

Jimi Jamison passed away on September 1, 2014, at his home in Raleigh, Memphis, Tennessee. He was 63 years old. An autopsy showed he had cardiovascular disease and narrowing of the arteries. He died from a hemorrhagic brain stroke.

Discography

With Survivor

Album	Year	US Billboard 200	Swiss	Swe	Certification RIAA
Vital Signs	1984	#16	#27	#48	Platinum
When Seconds Count	1986	#49	–	#30	Gold
Too Hot to Sleep	1988	#187	#23	#48	–
Reach	2006	–	–	–	–

Solo Albums

Other Bands

Album	Year	Artist	Role	UK Import Charts
Target	1976	Target	Lead Vocals	–
Captured	1977	Target	Lead Vocals	–
First Strike	1983	Cobra	Lead Vocals	#1
History	2011	One Man's Trash Feat. Jimi Jamison & Fred Zahl	Lead Vocals	–

Notable Singles

Title Song	Year	Artist	Billboard Hot 100	Mainstream Rock
"The Moment of Truth"	1984	Survivor	#63	–
"I Can't Hold Back"	1984	Survivor	#13	#1
"High on You"	1985	Survivor	#8	#8
"The Search Is Over"	1985	Survivor	#4	–
"Burning Heart"	1985	Survivor	#2	#11
"Is This Love"	1986	Survivor	#9	#27
"I'll Be Ready" (Baywatch Theme)	1993	Jimi Jamison	–	–

Soundtracks

Jimi Jamison's voice and songs were featured in many movies and TV shows:

• 1984: The Karate Kid (sang "The Moment of Truth")
• 1985: Rocky IV (sang "Burning Heart" and "Man Against the World")
• 1989: Lock Up (sang "Ever Since The World Began")
• 1991–2001: Baywatch (TV Series) (co-wrote and sang "I'm Always Here")
• 1992: Jersey Girl (sang "Taste of Love")
• 2005: The 40 Year Old Virgin (sang "The Search is Over")
• 2005: Kicking & Screaming (sang "Eye of the Tiger")
• 2009: Paul Blart: Mall Cop (sang "I Can't Hold Back")
• 2013: Grand Theft Auto V (Video Game) (sang "Burning Heart")
• 2017: Baywatch (Movie) (sang "I'm Always Here")

See also

In Spanish: Jimi Jamison para niños