JIMMY JACK WHITAKER BIO (Long Version)

 

     　Jimmy Jack Whitaker is an award-winning songwriter, artist, and producer. He was born in Vernon, Texas and went to high school in Snyder, Oklahoma, where he was a two time allstate musician and recieved a music scholarship at Oklahoma State University. He studied classical music under Dr. Wayne Muller. His first break came in 1978 when he wrote ‘Ode to the Farmer’. It was the National Theme Song to the 'American Farm Movement'. His first album was recorded at Studio One in Nashville and was produced by Bobby Boyd Records and engineered by Tommy Strong. He was on the same program with Merle Kilgore, Penny Dehaven, and The George Jones Band, culminating at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. He played for many members of congress receiving a standing ovation at The Hall. He also opened for Jerry Reed that year.
     In 1979, Jimmy Jack moved to California and co-founded ‘The Mojave River Band’, playing fiddle, banjo and guitar. The band was the house band at the famous 'Cocky Bull' in Victorville, California. Some of the highlights were winning the 'Wrightwood Bluegrass Festival' and winning awards as 'Instrumentalist and Entertainer of the Year' at The Apple Valley Days. During this time he did programs with Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and Dusty (Roy’s Son) as well as programs for St. Jude’s Hospital with Danny Thomas’ daughter Terri. He also did sunglasses commercials with Clayton Moore(tv’s Lone Ranger). He was also on programs with Pat Buttram (Mr. Haney on Green Acres) and Victor French (Gunsmoke, Little House on the Prairie, etc.). In 1980, he co-founded ‘Renegade Band’ in Hollywood with Monte Beach and Rocky Barrett.  The band immediately signed a recording contract with Jack Luttrell (The Ventures, etc.) of 'Fox Fidel Records'. The Band recorded its first album at 'Gold Star Studios' in Hollywood and Stan Ross (Eagles, Beach Boys, etc.) was engineer. The songs were written by Jimmy Jack and Rocky. Some of the highlights were ‘Cold Hearted Woman’ hitting the charts and the band touring for two years, including  playing Las Vegas, and traveling to Alaska.  The 'Renegade Band' was on the same program with such artists as The Oak Ridge Boys, David Frizzell, Willie Nelson, Dottie West, and many more.
     In 1983, Jimmy Jack moved back to Oklahoma and played in Coffee Houses and Holiday Inns. He started doing Anti-Drug programs in schools with a group called 'Dreamstring' from California. Matt Kaae was the director. He also started singing in churches and working with kids during this time. In 1985, good friend Ray Peterson (who sang  'Corrina, Corrina', 'Tell Laura I Love Her', etc.) convinced him to move to Nashville. He began working with Multi-Grammy winner Gary S. Paxton for a while writing and publishing. During this time he had several indie cuts. In 1987, he went on a mission trip to Haiti for ten days and produced an album and video to help raise money to feed the children in an orphanage. K.O. White was the artist. In 1989, he also produced an album on Zane Trusty at 'Fox Farm Studio' in Mt, Juliet, Tn. Zane was working with Anita Bryant at the time in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
     In 1990 through 1992, Jimmy Jack produced several sessions on the 'Country Thunder Band' and 'Jayne Lance', as well as another self produced album to help raise money for a Christian drug rehab center, 'New Canaan Ranch' in Pulaski, Tn. During this time, he did several sessions in Memphis with musicians such as Willie Hall (The Blues Brothers) and B.B. Cunningham, Jr. (Jerry Lee Lewis). Jim also co-wrote many songs with Jack Fultz that were recorded by several artists such as Rebecca Lynn Howard.  In 1993, he went to work for 'The Gibson Guitar Company' until 1999. In 1997, the Fox Brothers recorded 'Red Top Mountain' which he had co-written with Daniel Johnson. It went to #1 on the Country Gospel charts. For the next several years he spent time raising his son until he graduated High School in 2003.
     In 2004, longtime friend Charlie Hayward (Bass player for the Charlie Daniels Band), encouraged him to do a cd of original material. Along with Charlie and several of Jimmy Jacks friends, 'Common Ground' was recorded at 'Studio Seven' in Nashville. Shane Irwin was the engineer He began touring again. In 2005, Jimmy Jack released his second cd, ‘I’m Called’, which was produced by Bill Textor.  He was on the same programs with Jeanie Seely, Johnny Carver, Stella Parton, Billy Currington, Charlie Louvin, Calvary Cowboys, JoAnn Cash, Robin O’Herin, Jack Hodge, Gary McVay, Ricky Lynn Gregg, The Kings Trio, Judy Crowe and many others. By the end of the year he finished producing a new project by the gospel group, 'Two Hearts -n- Him', titled 'Once Upon a Cross'.
     In 2006, with the successful release of 'Two Hearts N Him'( their song 'Hold Up Your Candle' hit #1 on the international christian charts), Jimmy Jack also produced another project with Amy Jordyn. He also released his own Hymns cd titled 'Flaws and All' and began working with Christian Bikers across the country and started a new project titled 'Ridin The Road With Jesus'.
     2007 started with a bang with the release of his new cd, 'Ridin'The Road With Jesus', along with a 45 minute video. He sang at The Bondslaves Biker National Convention in Decatur, Illinois. In March of 2007, Jimmy Jack was reunited and signed a publishing deal with his friend, multi-Grammy winner Gary S. Paxton and partner business owner Gene Bicknell and Pax-Nell Publications. The U.S. Emergency Chaplains Corps and artist, firefighter Frank Pizzaro FDNY, recorded and made a video of his song 'He's The Closest Thing To A Hero'. He also had many songs recorded through Pax-Nell Publications. He also sang backup vocals with Paul Revere (Raiders) and Bill Medley (Righteous Brothers) on 'The Comets' new single.
     In 2008, T Jae Christian recorded and made a video of a song Jimmy Jack and his cowriter Daniel Johnson wrote called 'This Is Where Jesus Would Go'. The song went number one on many international charts. and was nominated in the top five videos along with George Straight, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, and Tracy Lawrence. A song he had written with Jackie Cox titled 'The Devil In My Rearview' was released on a trucker cd by Johnny Lee. 'The LeCroy Sisters' also recorded a song, 'Sunday Mornin' Hymnal', he had written with Eddie Reasoner'. Doing over 200 dates a year had kept him busy.
       The year 2009, began with Jimmy Jack recording a new cd in New York about the American Veterans called 'Thank God For The Amvets'. He dedicated the project to his brother, who was in Viet Nam, as well as all of our American Veterans and troops. He was honored to perform at 'The Freedom Celebration' concert with General Tommy Franks, Wayne Newton, and Neal McCoy. He performed in five prisons in a three week period. He also performed with Gold Wing Express and The Red Headed Express in Branson, Missouri. To cap off the year, he was presented the prestigious 'Ruby' award by the United States Association of Gospel Entertainers and Musicians (USAGEM) music awards in Nashville, Tennessee.

     2010 and 2011 found Jimmy Jack back recording in the studio and writing in Nashville and Branson. Also performing all over the country from Florida to Wisconsin, to Texas. In 2011, at Agape Fest in Texas, he recieved the Musician/Instrumentalist of the Year Award. During this time he also had several international chart songs he had written and co-written.

     In 2012, though his home is in Tennessee, he has been in Oklahoma visiting his mother, who is an author. He has been performing in the local area for the past several months, where he was raised. By friends requests, he put together his next cd. It is a collection of several of his favorite gospel songs he has written along with a couple of hymns from past cds.   

      Not only has Jimmy Jack recorded many of his own songs, but he has written songs recorded by T Jae Christian, Stella Parton, T Graham Brown, Gold Wing Express, Paul Alan Koons, Dan Duncan, The LeCroy Sisters, Frank Pizzaro FDNY, D'Ramirez, Natalie Isaacs, Mary Lee, Jackie Cox, The Fox Brothers, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Amy Jordyn, Two Hearts 'n Him, K.O.White, Paul McQueen, Dan Johnson, The Singing Nun, The Pearly Gates, Zane Trusty, Jack Fultz, Jayne Lance, Dan Glidden, Sommer Jones, Country Thunder, Rene and Edie Jones, and many more.
     Jimmy Jack has also written songs with many successful writers such as Greg Gordon (Elvis, Tanya Tucker), Royce Porter (George Strait, Kenny Rogers), Jim Goff (The Allman Brothers), Jim Robinson (Restless Heart), Roy August (Oak Ridge Boys), T Jae Christian (Roy Orbison) Gary S. Paxton (multi Grammy winner), and many others.

      He supports ‘School for Life Ministry’ in Gary, West Virginia where McDowell County is the poorest county in the U.S.A,'The Rock House  Ministries' in Rockford, Illinois that feeds over 100 inner city kids, and 'Global Missions' in Rogersville, Tennessee. He performs for Christian Biker groups, Military Veterans events, churches, jails and prisons, nursing homes, and street ministries.