Jimi Jamison

Jimmy Wayne Jamison (August 23, 1951 – September 1, 2014) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. Best known as Jimi Jamison, was the frontman of various bands like Target, Cobra and the platinum-selling rock band Survivor from 1984 to 1989 performing the theme songs of The Karate Kid “The Moment of Truth” and “Burning Heart” from Rocky IV, plus other top-20 hits like “I Can't Hold Back”, “High On You”, “The Search is Over” and “Is This Love”. He toured with the band's name between 1992 and 2000 to later re-joined until 2006, and from 2011 until his death. Acclaimed as one of the best male vocalists, Jamison is also known for having co-written and performed the theme song “I'm Always Here” for the 1990s TV series Baywatch.

Throughout his career, Jamison co-wrote the song “I'm a Fighter” by Van Zant, was named the “fourth member” of ZZ Top by Billy Gibbons, performed the entrance song “Hard Time” for the WWF wrestler, the hall of famer Big Boss Man, and worked with different artists such as Joe Walsh, Eric Gales, Degarmo & Key, Krokus, Whitney Wolanin, Bobby Kimball, Fred Zahl, Indicco and many more.

Jimmy Wayne Jamison was born in rural Durant, Mississippi but self-identified as a Memphis, Tennessee native, as he and his mother Dorothy moved there when he was one day old. In his teens, growing up in Blues-Rock and Soul music, he taught himself how to play the guitar and piano. The first song Jimi ever performed in front of a crowd was “Daytripper” by The Beatles, while he was in middle school (Sherwood) in the mid-1960s. His old friend, Jack Rowell, after having seen him singing, invited him to play in an R&B band called The Debuts.It was to be Jamison’s first taste of success, and he was only 12 years old at the time.

While students at Messick High School, the band had a hit with their first single, the Wayne Carson-penned “If I Cry” in 1968.It was a song originally intended for fellow Memphis band The Box Tops, but the group discarded the tune before recording it, with Box Tops frontman (and Jimi's friend) Alex Chilton deciding to give it to The Debuts. The band were picked up and signed by Atlantic Records, and soon the teenagers hit the road with the likes of Roy Orbison and Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels, also touring with The Buckinghams. The band broke up in 1969, but Jimi and Rowell continued playing together years later before going their separate ways.

While finishing his college studies at The University of Memphis in Radio/TV and Journalism, Jamison was playing with the bassist Tommy Cathey, working together in a band called Omaha in the early 70’s. At some point they wanted to explore original music and became part of local musician David Beaver's band, D-Beaver, which released the album Combinations in 1972 for Steve Cropper's TMI label.

Target (1974-1980)

After the second sessions recording with David Beaver, both Jamison and Cathey teamed up with guitarist Buddy Davis and formed the Memphis southern rock band Target in the mid 1970s. The band started and became an arena local band playing live constantly building up their reputation. Having success, the band released the albums Target (1976) and Captured (1977) on A&M Records with the singles “Are you Ready”, “Let Me Live” and “It's Only Love”, opening concerts for Black Sabbath, Boston, and KISS. While recording material for an upcoming third album in 1979, the label was unimpressed by the sales figures from their second album and eventually were dropped from the roster. The band struggled on without a record deal until the early 1980s, which lead to their split.

Cobra (1982-1984)

In 1982, Jamison joined guitarist Mandy Meyer (ex-Krokus), guitarist/keyboardist Jack Holder (ex-Black Oak Arkansas), bassist Tommy Keiser, and drummer Jeff Klaven in the band Cobra, managed by Butch Stone (who also managed Target as well as Krokus and Black Oak Arkansas), replacing original vocalist Tommy Andris. The band became a hit in the Memphis scene and signed with Epic Records. The group released one album, the Tom Allom-produced First Strike, in 1983. The British music magazine Kerrang! listed the album at number one in its import charts with the song “Blood On Your Money” getting MTV airplay, being Jamison's first music video.

“Looking at You” and “Travelin' Man” were promoted at the Memphis TV Club. Cobra started touring in the United States opening for Quiet Riot, Nazareth, and Krokus. Their live performance on November 27, 1983 was broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour (KBFH) and later partly released on the Live Attack! and Only You Can Rock Me bootlegs. The live set included a half dozen unreleased songs, including their original “I'm a Fighter” written by Jimi and Mandy which was used by the group Van Zant in the mid-1980s. Meanwhile, First Strike was only a moderate commercial success, the band split in 1984, primarily due to each member wanting to do different things.

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. After a successful audition with the band, Jamison joined them despite some misgivings about Survivor's pop rock sound. He provided an instant spark to the band, having great success, putting the band back on top. His first recording with the band was "The Moment of Truth" (The Karate Kid theme song), 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" (which reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart),"I Can't Hold Back" (number 13 on the singles chart and number 1 on Top Rock Tracks chart), with Jamison proving to be a worthy frontman and a photogenic face of the band, which helped the video for this song get significant airplay on MTV, and "The Search Is Over" (number 4 on the singles chart and number 1 on the adult contemporary chart). "First Night" also reached number 53 on the singles chart.

The band began touring in Chicago and Indianapolis in 1984, 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, plus touring in Tokyo, Japan in which they released a DVD of the concert and appearing and performing in different Japanese Television Shows. That same year Survivor was requested by Stallone once again to do the theme song for the next Rocky film, achieving another hit with "Burning Heart" from the film Rocky IV. In early 1986, the single peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, also topped the charts in Switzerland and Belgium along with other top-10 around the world including a gold certification in France.

Jamison's second album with Survivor, When Seconds Count, was released on October 9, 1986 and included the hit single "Is This Love" (number 9 on the singles chart). 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" (number 86). 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, while "In Good Faith" was promoted in Europe, with the band performing in German TV Shows. That same year, the band began the When Seconds Count Tour until 1987, starting with the later DVD release of the Live Concert in Nagoya, Japan in the late 1986, January's next year was followed in Osaka, then Jackson, NY and Nelson, NJ.

Survivor released their final 80's 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. With 3 singles released, "Across the Miles" reached number 74 on the singles chart, "Didn't Know It Was Love" reached number 61 and "Desperate Dreams" promoted in Europe, the band couldn't get back on the top. After the album misfortunes, in 1989 group founders Frankie Sullivan and Jim Peterik put the band on hiatus, reviving the band in 1993 with original singer Dave Bickler. Jamison never quitted the band and still continued to tour with new sidemen under the Survivor name, resulting in a lengthy court battle regarding rights to the name.

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 Sylvester Stallone's film, Lock Up, after being requested by Stallone. Jamison performed the entrance song "Hard Time" for the wrestler Big Boss Man when he was in the WWF. That same year, he was invited to join Deep Purple, who had just fired longtime singer Ian Gillan. After a 2-week session with the band, according to Deep Purple organist Jon Lord, "He [Jamison] 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 [Survivor] 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 and was part of the new year's eve celebration in the Crown Plaza.

Jamison's first solo album When Love Comes Down was released in July, 1991 with the cover of the song "If You Walk Away" written by Skip Adams & Todd Cerney. Neither the album or any of its singles appearing on the charts, still 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. That same year, Jamison was requested by CBS to make a song for a TV Series that the company just acquired at the moment. Jimi co-wrote (with Cory Lerios and John D'Andrea) and performed "I'm Always Here," the theme song for Baywatch. The song became a big success and with recognition in popular culture, various versions of the song were used as the show's opening theme until 2001. The song appeared on a 10-track cassette promo by Mercury Records of Hamburg. It also appeared as a promo single by Scotti Brothers Records in 1994 plus the inclusion of songs "Have Mercy" and "A Dream To Far" in France, and as a CD promo in the UK on Direction Records in 2005. Through the years the song has been used in movies and TV Shows as well as in many different soundtracks.

In 1992, Jamison began touring under the name Survivor or Jimi Jamison's Survivor with a new solo band, Hal Butler (keyboards, vocals), Jeff Adams (bass, vocals), Bill Marshall (drums), and with Frankie Sullivan for that year only to later be replaced by Jeff Miller. The members of the new 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 tours included the Kentucky Summer Festival in 1995, performing in the main stage of Main, followed by Houston and Chicago in 1996. In 1997 after performing in New Jersey they went on to tour in Europe in Biebob, Belgium, and later in Misawa, Japan. A few changes came in the last couple years of the decade, Chris Adamson replaced Jeff on guitar, Pete Mendillo replaced Bill on drums but he only stayed in 1998-99 before being replaced by Klay Schroedel. Jamison's band lastly performed in the Blue Ash Festival in Ohio and in Las Vegas on the Fremont Street Experience. The solo album Empires was released under the name Jimi Jamison's Survivor in October 1999. The album included the Baywatch theme song (this is not the original, but this album version was made to suit the album's style and year update), the album's title song with Lisa Frasier sharing lead vocals and a cover of "Love is Alive" by Gary Wright,plus 4 bonus tracks, "Keep it Evergreen" a Christmas song and the live versions of "Burning Heart", "Rebel Son" and "Too Hot to Sleep" from the touring. 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.

Jamison reunited with Survivor in March 2000, replacing original singer Dave Bickler once again. The band started touring in the Amphitheater Hersey Park, Pennsylvania followed by the Millenium stage, Uprising, US Tour 2000. They did a live performance in Hachenburg, the Across the German miles tour in Nordseehalle Emden, The battle of Woodlands - Woodlands Pavillion Houston, performed in Volunteers for America in Atlanta.

Thet performed live in the Big Apple in the Westbury Music Fair New York in 2002, Turning back time in the HiFi Buys Amphitheatre Atlanta, they also performed Driven to Detroit with the only live recorded "Velocitazed", a song planned to appear in the Sylvester Stallone's film Driven, but didn't make it. That same year the band released "Christmas is Here", which reached No. 6 on the Mediabase Christmas charts.

In 2005, Jamison and the band were part of a Starbucks commercial, making an Eye of the Tiger parody, which gave them an Emmy Nomination. Jamison and the band released the album Reach in April 2006. The album was Survivor's first new album in 18 years. Jamison quit the band shortly after the release of Reach, on July 14.

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. He continued touring in Rio, Brazil, Chile and in Barcelona, Spain. A companion album of outtakes called Extra Moments was released in 2010, the additional tracks had been compiled by Jamison and Peterik as a benefit for the music website melodicrock.com.

In 2010, for the first time in his career Jamison performed in the UK as he was part of the Firefest in Nottingham, England. With a full crowd and with big success, after people's demand, he showed up again next year's festival with another sold out concert.

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 (Mr Mister), Randy Goodrum (Toto, Steve Perry), 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 released in December 2012.

Jamison again reunited with Survivor in 2011. In November of that year he performed Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" (on which he did not sing originally) 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 (arttecusa.com). 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".

Throughout his career, Jamison provided background vocals for several bands and artists such as Degarmo & Key (This Ain't Hollywood, 1980, Heat it Up, 1993 and To Extremes, 1994); Gary Chapman (Sincerely Yours, 1981); Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart (Brand New Start, 1982 and Sheep In Wolves Clothing, 1985); Krokus (Headhunter, 1983 and The Blitz, 1984); Molly Hatchet (The Deed is Done, 1984); and The Blackwood Brothers (All Their Best, 1984). 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 after working, touring and hanging out with them in multiple occasions.

Jamison contributed vocals for Joe Walsh on the albums Got any Gum? (1987), Ordinary Average Guy (1991), and Songs for a Dying Planet (1992). He was 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 (Powerful Stuff, 1989), Ten Years After (About Time, 1989), Omar & the Howlers (Wall of Pride, 1988), Eric Gales Band (The Eric Gales Band, 1991 and Picture of a Thousand Faces, 1993), Chris Bailey (Demons, 1991), the Jeff Healey Band (Feel This, 1992), Every Mother's Nightmare (Wake up Screaming, 1993), and Johnny Diesel (Hepfidelity, 1993). He worked along with Steve Cox and other musicians in many different recordings between 1989-1995, some songs ended up in future albums but the rest of the demos can be found as Jamo Sessions Vol 1 & Vol 2, Have Mercy: The Demos and the unofficial album released by Scape Music in 2009 in Italy, The Mofo Sessions with Steve, originally from 1993.

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 and other artists covers. He also did some additional recording with Jim Peterik during this period, resulting in a compilation called The Demos 07.

Jamison provided backing vocals for Howard Leese (Secret Weapon, 2009). 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.

Jamison earned critical acclaim for his vocal abilities, having been praised by such luminaries as Casey Kasem (who called him "The Voice"). "We didn't even consider it [pitch editing] 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."

In 1972, Jamison married Brenda Fay, who is the mother of his first 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.

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."

With Survivor

Solo

Other Bands

Other Groups/Collaborations

Issued/Remastered

Unofficial/Unreleased

Compilations/Releases

Singles/Promos/EPs

Music Videos

Soundtracks

• 1984 The Karate Kid: (performer: "The Moment of Truth")
• 1985 Rocky IV: (performer: "Burning Heart")
• 1985 Rocky IV Soundtrack: (performer: "Man Against the World")
• 1989 Lock Up: (performer: "Ever Since The World Began")
• 1991 – 2001 Baywatch (TV Series) (lyrics – performer: "I'm Always Here")
• Baywatch (TV Series) (lyrics – 2 episodes, 1991) (performer – 2 episodes, 1991) – Nightmare Bay: Part 2 (1991) (lyrics: "I'm Always Here") / (performer: "Rock Hard", "I'm Always Here")– Nightmare Bay: Part 1 (1991) (lyrics: "I'm Always Here") / (performer: "I'm Always Here", "Rock Hard")
• Baywatch (TV Series) (performer – 1 episode, 1992) – "Lifeguards Can't Jump" (1992) (performer: "Taste of Love")
• 1992 Jersey Girl: (performer: "Taste of Love")
• 1998 Wrongfully Accused: (performer: "I'm Always Here")
• 2001 Spy Game: (performer: "I'm Always Here")
• 2001 Mrs. Death 3: (performer: "The Search Is Over")
• Johnny Bravo (TV Series) (performer – 1 episode)– Get Shovelized/T Is for Trouble (2004) (performer: "You Gotta Be")
• 2005 The 40 Year Old Virgin: (performer: "The Search is Over")
• 2005 Kicking & Screaming: (performer: "Eye of the Tiger")
• 2007 Psych (TV Series): (performer: "Burning Heart" – 1 episode)
• Video on Trial (TV Series) (performer – 1 episode) – Totally Beachin' Video on Trial (2008) ... (performer: "I'm Always Here")
• The Xtra Factor (TV Series) (lyrics – 1 episode, 2008) (performer – 1 episode, 2008)– Episode #5.9 (2008) (lyrics: "I'm Always Here") / (performer: "I'm Always Here")
• 2009 Paul Blart: Mall Cop (performer: "I Can't Hold Back")
• 2011 Formula 1: BBC Sport (TV Series) (performer – 1 episode) – The Malaysia Grand Prix: Qualifying (2011) (performer: "Burning Heart")
• Britain's Got Talent (TV Series) (lyrics – 1 episode, 2011) (performer – 1 episode, 2011)– 2011: Auditions 1 (2011) (lyrics: "I'm Always Here") / (performer: "I'm Always Here")
• 2012 Piranha 3DD: (performer: "I'm Always Here")
• 2012 Hansi Hinterseer – Traumhaftes Seenland im Salzkammergut (TV Movie) (performer: "I'm Always Here")
• 2013 Grand Theft Auto V (Video Game) (performer: "Burning Heart")
• 2014 The Goldbergs (TV Series) (performer – 1 episode) – You Opened the Door (2014) (performer: "The Search Is Over")
• Mike and Mike in the Morning (TV Series) (lyrics – 1 episode, 2014) (performer – 1 episode, 2014) – Episode September 2, 2014 (lyrics: "I'm Always Here") / (performer: "I'm Always Here")
• Tosh.0 (TV Series) (performer – 1 episode, 2016) (writer – 1 episode, 2016) – Climate Change Comedian (2016) (performer: "I'll Be Ready") / (writer: "I'll Be Ready")
• 2017 Pasapalabra (TV Series) (performer – 1 episode) – Episode #2.4 (2017) (performer: "Burning Heart")
• 2017 Baywatch (Movie) (performer: "I'm Always Here") / (writer: "I'm Always Here" – as Jimmy Jamison)
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (TV Series) (lyrics – 1 episode) – Dwayne Johnson/Ellie Kemper/Charlie Puth (2017) (lyrics: "I'm Always Here")
• 2018 And They're Off... for Sport Relief (TV Series) (performer – 1 episode) – Episodio #1.1 (2018) (performer: "Burning Heart")
• Die Magie des Eises: Linzer Eiszauber 2018 (TV Movie) (performer: "I'll Be Ready")
• Coast Lives (TV Series documentary) (lyrics – 1 episode, 2018) (performer – 1 episode, 2018) – Episode #1.1 (2018) (lyrics: "I'm Always Here") / (performer: "I'm Always Here")
• Piers Morgan's Life Stories (TV Series) (lyrics – 1 episode, 2018) (performer – 1 episode, 2018) – Pamela Anderson (2018) (lyrics: "I'm Always Here") / (performer: "I'm Always Here")
• Good Morning Britain (TV Series) (performer – 4 episodes, 2017 – 2018) (lyrics – 3 episodes, 2017 – 2018) (writer – 1 episode, 2017)– Episode April 17, 2018 (lyrics: "I'm Always Here") / (performer: "I'm Always Here") – Episode May 19, 2017 (lyrics: "I'm Always Here") / (performer: "I'm Always Here") – Episode May 16, 2017 (performer: "I'm Always Here") / (writer: "I'm Always Here")– Episode May 15, 2017 (lyrics: "I'm Always Here") / (performer: "I'm Always Here")
• Britain's Got More Talent (TV Series) (lyrics – 1 episode, 2018) (performer – 1 episode, 2018) – Episode #12.12 (2018) (lyrics: "I'm Always Here") / (performer: "I'm Always Here")
• Wedding Day Winners (TV Series) (performer – 1 episode) – Episode #1.5 (2018) (performer: "I'm Always Here")