Jimi Jamison


Jimmy Wayne Jamison was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. Jamison was the frontman of the platinum-selling rock band Survivor from 1984 to 1989, a short period in 1992, from 2000 to 2006, and from 2011 until his death. Jamison is also known for having co-written and performed the theme song "I'm Always Here" for the 1990s TV series Baywatch.

Early years

Jimmy Wayne Jamison was born in rural Durant, Mississippi but self-identified as a Memphis, Tennessee native, as he and his mother moved there when he was one day old. In his teens, he learned by himself to play the guitar and piano. In middle school he played in an R&B band called the Debuts and released his first single "If I Cry" in 1967, making his debut in the musical business.
While finishing his college studies at The University of Memphis in Radio/TV and Journalism he was part of the band D-Beaver, which released the album Combinations in 1971.

Target (1974-1980)

Jamison fronted the Memphis southern rock band Target in the early 1970s. The band released the albums Target and Captured on A&M Records with the singles "Are you Ready", "Let Me Live" and "It's Only Love". They opened concerts for Black Sabbath, Boston, and KISS.

Cobra (1982-1984)

In 1982, Jamison teamed up with guitarist Mandy Meyer, guitarist/keyboardist Jack Holder, bassist Tommy Keiser, and drummer Jeff Klaven to form the band Cobra. This band became a fixture in the Memphis scene and signed with Epic Records. The group issued their lone album, the Tom Allom-produced First Strike, in 1983. The British music magazine Kerrang! listed the album at number one in its import charts. The song "Blood On Your Money" got MTV airplay. Cobra opened concerts for Quiet Riot, Nazareth, and Krokus.

Survivor

After Cobra's demise in 1984, Jamison was invited to join Survivor, whose success had been waning since their number-one hit "Eye of the Tiger" in 1982. The band had recently parted ways with original singer Dave Bickler, due to his vocal cord injuries that required a lengthy convalescence. Jamison joined despite some misgivings about Survivor's pop rock sound. His first recording with the band was "The Moment of Truth", which reached number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1984.
Jamison's first full album with Survivor, and the band's fifth overall, was Vital Signs, released later in 1984. That album reached number 16 on the Billboard Album Chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA. The album included the hit singles "High on You", "I Can't Hold Back", and "The Search Is Over". "First Night" also reached number 53 on the singles chart.
In 1985 the band went on tour with headliner Bryan Adams, performing at his sold-out concerts at Nashville's War Memorial Auditorium, the Dallas Convention Center, the San Antonio Convention Center and the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. They also toured with REO Speedwagon around that time with appearances at San Diego sports arena and other venues. In early 1986, Survivor achieved another hit with "Burning Heart" from the film Rocky IV. The single peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also topped the charts in Switzerland and Belgium.
Jamison's second album with Survivor, When Seconds Count, was released on October 9, 1986 and included the hit single "Is This Love". The album peaked at a disappointing number 49 on the Billboard Album Chart but still managed to sell over 500,000 copies and was certified Gold. This album also featured Jamison making songwriting contributions to the band's repertoire, including the single "Man Against the World". This song was originally slated for inclusion on the Rocky IV soundtrack and was in fact later included in that album's 2006 reissue. Another single, "How Much Love" peaked at number 51 on the singles chart.
Survivor released the album Too Hot to Sleep in late 1988. Jamison named the album as his personal favorite with Survivor, but it suffered from a lack of record company promotion and only reached number 187 on the Billboard albums chart. The song "Across the Miles" reached number 74 on the singles chart and "Didn't Know It Was Love" reached number 61. After that album, group founders Frankie Sullivan and Jim Peterik put the band on hiatus, reviving the band in 1993 with original singer Dave Bickler. Jamison continued to tour with new sidemen under the Survivor name, resulting in a lengthy court battle regarding rights to the name.

Solo career

In 1989, Jamison contributed his own version of "Ever Since the World Began", a song Survivor had initially recorded prior to his tenure in the band, to the film Lock Up. That same year, he was invited to join Deep Purple, who had just fired longtime singer Ian Gillan. According to Deep Purple organist Jon Lord, "He was an enormous Deep Purple fan and he would happily have taken over the job. But at the time he was afraid of his managers. They didn't want him to leave and he didn't dare to get into a fight with them." In fact, Jamison's managers wanted him to concentrate on his upcoming solo album instead of joining Deep Purple. Also in 1989, Jamison briefly united with his Target bandmates for a "10-Year Reunion" concert in Memphis.
Jamison's first solo album When Love Comes Down was released in July 1991, produced by Shel Talmy, Kenny Mims and Jim Gaines. Neither the album nor any of its singles charted, though the songs "Rock Hard" and "Taste of Love" were used in episodes of Baywatch, and the latter was also used in the 1992 film Jersey Girl. Also in 1991, Jamison co-wrote and performed "I'm Always Here," the theme song for Baywatch. Various versions of the song were used as the show's opening theme until 2001.
In 1992, Jamison began touring under the names Survivor or Jimi Jamison's Survivor with a new solo band. The other members of Survivor filed a lawsuit but were unable to prevent Jamison from using the name until 1999. During this period, the Scotti Brothers label released two Survivor compilation albums featuring songs from Jamison's tenure.
The solo album Empires was released under the name Jimi Jamison's Survivor in October 1999. The album included the Baywatch theme song and a cover of "Love is Alive" by Gary Wright. After the legal battle over the rights to the name Survivor finally ended in 1999, the album would be re-released under Jamison's name only.

Second tenure with Survivor (2000–06)

Jamison reunited with Survivor in March 2000, replacing original singer Dave Bickler once again. The band then began recording material for a new album.
For 2002, they recorded "Christmas is Here", which reached No. 6 on the Mediabase Christmas charts.
Jamison and the band released the album Reach in April 2006, which was Survivor's first new album in 18 years. Some of the album's songs dated back to the band's early years, before Jamison had joined them. Jamison quit the band shortly after the release of Reach, on July 14.

Return to solo work (2007–2014)

Jamison released the solo album Crossroads Moment in Europe in July 2008 and in America the following year. The album was produced by his former Survivor bandmate Jim Peterik. A companion album of outtakes called Extra Moments was released in 2010. The extra tracks had been compiled by Jamison and Peterik as a benefit for the music website melodicrock.com.
In 2011 Jamison teamed up with Toto singer Bobby Kimball for the album Kimball Jamison. The two singers shared lead vocals on songs written by Richard Page, Randy Goodrum, John Waite, and other notable rock songwriters.
During this period Jamison also formed the band One Man's Trash with Fred Zahl. That group released the album History in December 2011 for Starhouse Records. The band earned an endorsement from the guitar company Hofner. One Man's Trash broke up when Jamison again returned to Survivor in 2011.
His final solo album Never Too Late was released in November 2012 and features an appearance by his daughter Lacy E. Jamison on backing vocals. An album of country-flavored outtakes from this project, Unreleased Music, was issued in December 2012.

Final tenure with Survivor (2011–2014)

Jamison again reunited with Survivor in 2011. In November of that year he performed Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" for boxer Manny Pacquiao's entrance into the ring for his bout against Shane Mosley at MGM Grand Las Vegas. Fueled by popular demand, Jamison would repeat the performance the following year for the boxer's next title defense.
In 2013 it was announced on the band's official media sources that Sullivan had reunited the current Survivor line-up with Bickler. "Our fans are the best and I can't think of a better way to give them our best. With this line-up, and both Dave and Jimi in the band, we can perform ALL of our hits," he said. They were also working on new material and looking forward to getting back into the studio together. Jamison participated in further tours with Survivor and would remain with the band until his death in 2014.
Jamison's last show was on August 30, 2014, in Morgan Hill, California, at the CANcert benefit event during the ARTTEC Summer Concert Series. The benefit raised funds and awareness for two non-profits supporting cancer patients as well as career training opportunities for high school students. Survivor's 58-minute set consisted of "Feels Like Love", "Broken Promises", "Take You on a Saturday", "High on You", "Rockin' into the Night", "The Search Is Over", "Rebel Girl", "I Can't Hold Back", "Burning Heart", "Poor Man's Son", "It's the Singer Not the Song" and ended with "Eye of the Tiger".

Collaborations and later career

Throughout his career, Jamison provided background vocals for several bands and artists such as Degarmo & Key ; Gary Chapman ; Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart ; Krokus ; Molly Hatchet ; and The Blackwood Brothers. He provided backing vocals throughout ZZ Top's 1983 album Eliminator and also for that band's contribution to the Back to the Future III soundtrack in 1990. Frontman Billy Gibbons referred to Jamison as the "fourth member" of the group.
Jamison contributed vocals for Joe Walsh on the albums Got any Gum?, Ordinary Average Guy, and Songs for a Dying Planet. He sang co-lead vocals with Walsh on the 1991 single "All of a Sudden", which reached number 13 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. He also worked with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Ten Years After, Omar & the Howlers, Eric Gales Band, Chris Bailey, the Jeff Healey Band, Every Mother's Nightmare, and Johnny Diesel.
Jamison performed the theme song "Hard Time" for the wrestler Big Boss Man when he was in the WWF. In 2005 he collaborated with soul singer Whitney Wolanin on the song "It Takes Two", and provided backing vocals for the album
Reflection Of Something by Todd Agnew. In 2007 he formed the Jimi Jamison Band, which played songs by all of Jamison's bands plus ZZ Top. He also did some additional recording with Jim Peterik during this period, resulting in the album The Demos 07.
Jamison provided backing vocals for Howard Leese. He released the single "House That Love Built" in early 2010 as a benefit for the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis. He also recorded the charity single "One Family" in 2011 with the all-star ensemble United Rockers 4 U, which also included Bobby Kimball, Don Dokken, Eddie Money, Jeff Paris, Paul Shortino, Phil Lewis, Richie Kotzen, and Robin McAuley. Jamison contributed backing vocals to the album
Naked but Dressed'' by Dominoe in 2012. He contributed to an all-star tribute to Steve Miller Band in 2013, and an all-star tribute to The Doors in 2014.

Posthumous releases (2015–2019)

After Jamison's death in 2014, some additional solo recordings and collaborations were released. Outtakes from the 2011 album by Jamison's band One Man's Trash appeared in 2014. A collaboration with the band Radioactive was released in early 2015. Singer Gema Pearl released a tribute song to Jamison in 2015 called "Forever Ended Today". Material recorded by his early band Target in 1979 was released in 2017 as the album In Range. A collaboration with singer Ally McMirror appeared on the album Matter of Passion in 2018. And finally, Jamison had been a member of an all-star project that released a version of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" in 2018. Jim Peterik released the single "Love you all over the world" in April 2019 for his album Winds of Change, performed by Jamison.

Style and legacy

"The music was so much fun, so much joy," said Jamison about his career. He earned critical acclaim for his vocal abilities, having been praised by such luminaries as Casey Kasem, former Survivor bandmate Jim Peterik, and many others. "We didn't even consider it on him," sound engineer Terry Manning says. "We didn't even have it back then. He never needed it. He could hold pitch. He could sing vibrato when needed. He could sing straight when needed. He could do whatever you needed. Casey Kasem, the big DJ guy, called him 'The Voice.' That's what he named him. He just was the voice." Jamison is an Honorary Member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine called Jamison "a true Rock and Roll Legend."

Personal life

In 1972, Jamison married Brenda Fay, who is the mother of his daughter Amy. They divorced in 1983 and Jamison later married Debbie Teal in 1985. With Teal, he had two more children, James and Lacy. Jamison and Teal separated in 1999 but remained married until his death. When not traveling or performing, Jamison enjoyed gardening, throwing horseshoes, various sports such as tennis and golf, and spending time with his family. He called his mother the most influential person in his life, reportedly saying she did everything she could to help and support him and his musical career.

Death

Jamison died on September 1, 2014 at his home in Raleigh, Memphis, Tennessee. His autopsy said he had cardiovascular disease and narrowing of the arteries and that he died of a hemorrhagic brain stroke, with "acute methamphetamine intoxication contributing." Lyrics from his song "I'm Always Here" are written on his gravestone.

Discography

With Survivor
AlbumYearLabelUS Billboard 200SwissGerSweCertification RIAACertification
Vital Signs1984Scotti Bro. & Volcano#16#27#48PlatinumGold
When Seconds Count1986Scotti Brothers#49#30Gold
Too Hot to Sleep1988Scotti Brothers#187#23#55#48
Reach2006Frontiers Records

Solo
AlbumYearLabelWithAlbum of The Year
When Love Comes Down1991Scotti Bro. & Top Notch Records
Empires1999Scotti Bro. & Frontiers RecordsLisa Fraiser
Crossroads Moment2008Frontiers RecordsJim Peterik#3
Extra Moments2010MelodicRock RecordsJim Peterik
Kimball/Jamison2011Frontiers RecordsBobby Kimball
Never Too Late2012Frontiers Records

Other Bands
AlbumYearLabelArtistRoleUK Import Charts
Combinations1973TMID BeaverLead & Backing Vocals
Target1976A&M RecordsTargetLead Vocals
Captured1977A&M RecordsTargetLead Vocals
First Strike1983Epic RecordsCobraLead Vocals#1
History2011Starhouse RecordsOne Man's Trash Feat. Jimi Jamison & Fred ZahlLead Vocals

Other Groups/Collaborations
AlbumYearLabelArtistRoleWith
This Ain't Hollywood1980Degarmo & KeyBacking Vocals
Eliminator1983Warner Bro. RecordsZZ TopBacking Vocals
Headhunter1983AristaKrokusBacking Vocals
The Blitz1983AristaKrokusBacking Vocals
The Deed is Done1984Epic RecordsMolly HatchetBacking Vocals
Got any Gum?1987Warner Bro. & Full MoonJoe WalshBacking Vocals
Wall of Pride1988Omar & the HowlersBacking Vocals
Memory in the Making1988Geffen recordsJohn KilzerBacking Vocals
Powerful Stuff1989CBSThe Fabulous ThunderbirdsBacking Vocals
About Time1989ChrysalisTen Years AfterBacking Vocals
Worrall1991Spy RecordsRick & Steve WorrallBacking VocalsShawn Lane
Ordinary Average Guy1991Epic RecordsJoe WalshBacking Vocals & Co-Lead
The Eric Gales Band1991Elektra RecordsEric GalesBacking Vocals
Songs for a Dying Planet1992Epic RecordsJoe WalshBacking Vocals & Co-Lead
Feel This1992AristaJeff Healey BandBacking Vocals
Picture of a Thousand Faces1993Elektra RecordsEric GalesBacking Vocals
Wake up Screaming1993ChrysalisEvery Mother's NightmareBacking Vocals
Hepfidelity1993Johnny DieselBacking Vocals
Heat it Up1993Benson RecordsDegarmo & KeyBacking Vocals
To Extremes1994Benson RecordsDegarmo & KeyBacking Vocals
Big Tent Revival1995Big Tent RevivalBacking Vocals
Funkology XIII2005TopNotch RecordsWhitney WolaninCo-Lead Vocals
Secret Weapon2009Frontiers RecordsHoward LeeseLead Vocals
Matt Kennon2010BamaJam & StroudavariousMatt KennonBacking Vocals
Naked But Dressed2012Universal Music GroupDominoe Feat. Jimi JamisonCo-Lead Vocals
Karmalion2013New Venture MusicIndicco Feat. Jimi JamisonBacking and Co-Lead Vocals
Fly Like an Eagle: An All-Star Tribute to the Steve Miller Band2013Jimi Jamison & Jordan RedussLead Vocals
Light My Fire: A Classic Rock Salute to The Doors2014Purple Pyramid RecordsJimi JamisonLead Vocals
F4ur2015Scape MusicRadioactiveLead Vocals
Red Blooded American Girl2015Gema Pearl Feat. Jimi JamisonCo-Lead Vocals
Matter of Passion2018Starhouse RecordsAlly McMirror Feat. Jimi JamisonCo-Lead Vocals
Battle Hymn of the Republic2018Various Artists
Winds Of Change2019Frontiers RecordsJim Peterik Feat. Jimi JamisonLead Vocals

Issued/Remastered
AlbumYearLabelArtistRole
The Mofo Sessions2009 Scape MusicJimi Jamison & Steve CoxLead Vocals
In Range2017 Scape MusicTargetLead Vocals

Unofficial/Unreleased
AlbumYearArtist
Live at the High Cotton Club1975Target
Live Attack1983Cobra
Jamo Sessions Vol. 11990Jimi Jamison
Jamo Sessions Vol. 21995Jimi Jamison's Survivor
Have Mercy: The Demos2000Jimi Jamison's Survivor
The Demos 072007Jimi Jamison & Jim Peterik

Compilations/Releases
AlbumYearLabelArtist
Live in Indianapolis1984Survivor
Live in Tokyo1985Survivor
Live in Nagoya1986Survivor
the best collection of survivor1986Scotti BrothersSurvivor
The Very Best Of Survivor1986Scotti BrothersSurvivor
Live in Osaka1987Survivor
Live in Jackson, NY1987Survivor
Live in Nelson, NJ1987Survivor
Greatest Hits1989VolcanoSurvivor
The Best Of Survivor 1989Scotti BrothersSurvivor
New Years Eve in Memphis1989Jimi Jamison
Greatest Hits The Video Collection1993Scotti BrothersSurvivor
Jimi Jamison's Survivor Collection 11993Scotti BrothersJimi Jamison's Survivor
Jimi Jamison's Survivor Collection 21994Scotti BrothersJimi Jamison's Survivor
American Television's Greatest Hits1995Jimi Jamison
Live in Maine1996Jimi Jamison's Survivor
Live in Houston1996Jimi Jamison's Survivor
Live in Belgium1997Jimi Jamison's Survivor
Prime Cuts: The Classic Tracks1998Survivor
Jimi Jamison's Survivor I'm Always Here1999Scotti BrothersJimi Jamison's Survivor
Live in Las Vegas1999Jimi Jamison
Survivor Special Selection2000Survivor
Live at Hershey Park2000Survivor
Gathering of tigers2000Survivor
Millenium stage2000Survivor
Uprising2000Survivor
Live in Hachenburg2001Survivor
Fire in Your Eyes: Greatest Hits2001Survivor
Across the German miles2001Survivor
The battle of Woodlands2001Survivor
Volunteers for America2001Survivor
Live in the Big Apple2002Survivor
Turning back time2002Survivor
Driven to Detroit2002Survivor
Live in Mc Henry2003Survivor
Ultimate Survivor2004Survivor
Extended Versions: The Encore Collection2004Survivor
Pearls of Survivor2005Survivor
Take you on a Vegas Saturday2005Survivor
Live in Kansas2006Survivor
The Best Of Survivor2006VolcanoSurvivor
Live at the Waukesha Country Fair2006Survivor
Live in Orlando2006Survivor
Live in Pewaukee2006Survivor
The Eye of The Tiger in Rio2008Jimi Jamison
Live in Brasil2008Jimi Jamison
Voices of Rock Radio2008Jimi Jamison
Live in Barcelona2009Jimi Jamison
Live in Santiago, Chile2009Jimi Jamison
Playlist: The Very Best Of Survivor2009VolcanoSurvivor
Best Of Survivor2009Sony RecordsSurvivor
Live at Firefest2010Jimi Jamison
Super Hits2010Sony RecordsSurvivor
The Voice of The Tiger in Hamburg2011Jimi Jamison
Unreleased Music2012SongCast RecordsJimi Jamison
The Definitive Collection2016Survivor

Singles/Promos/EPs

Title SongYearAlbumArtist
"Burning Heart"1985Rocky IV Soundtrack,
When Seconds Count,
Empires
Survivor,
Jimi Jamison
RegionChart Pos. 1985–86Year-End 1986 RegionChart Pos. 1985–86
Billboard 100#2Billboard 100#8
Mainstream#11Netherland#12
Singles Chart#5Swiss#15
Singles Chart#6France#17
Dutch Mega Top 100#2Dutch Top 40#17
Hot 100#1Belgium#19
SNEP singles chart#2Germany#30
Singles Chart#6Italy#47
Singles Chart#2Top 100#58
South Africa#27CertificationSales
Swedish#5France Gold1.000.000+
Swiss#1
Canada#14
Ultratop 50 singles#1
Australia#55
Finland#2
Italy#5
Japanese#46
Japanese #1

Title SongYearAlbumArtist
"Taste of Love"1991When Love Comes Down,
Baywatch,
Jerswy Girl Soundtrack
Jimi Jamison
"Rock Hard"1991When Love Comes Down,
Baywatch
Jimi Jamison
"When Love Comes Down"1991When Love Comes DownJimi Jamison
"Look At Us Now"1992Songs for a Dying PlanetJoe Walsh Feat. Jimi Jamison

Title SongYearAlbumArtist
"Have Mercy"1996EmpiresJimi Jamison
"A Dream too Far"1999EmpiresJimi Jamison
"Keep it Evergreen"1999EmpiresJimi Jamison
"Velocitized"2001Live RecordedSurvivor

Title SongYearAlbumArtistAdult ContemporaryUK
"It Takes Two"2005Funkology XIIIWhitney Wolanin Feat. Jimi Jamison#9
"Eye Of The Tiger" 2005Survivor#47

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