Jimmy Hall first gained popularity as the lead vocalist, saxophonist, and harmonica player for the band Wet Willie, emerging from Mobile, Alabama. His unique brand of R&B-infused rock and roll and onstage swagger propelled the group’s signature song “Keep on Smilin’” to the Top 10 on the Billboard singles chart in 1974.
After seven albums with Capricorn Records, Wet Willie moved forward to Epic Records releasing the singles Street Corner Serenade and Weekend. Both singles hit the US Top 40 and five other songs were placed in the Billboard Top 100. Following these successes, the label approached Jimmy to record two solo albums in the 80s. I’m Happy That Love Has Found You was the first single and led to his appearances on pop culture TV staples of the Rock era such as American Bandstand, The Midnight Special, Solid Gold, and other musical variety series.
His songs have been recorded by Gregg Allman, Jason Isbell, The Marshall Tucker Band, Blackberry Smoke, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Johnny Russell, and many others. Additionally, Jimmy has been a vocalist and bandleader for Hank Williams, Jr. since 1992.
Over the years, Jimmy has been involved in other musical endeavors including The Nighthawks, BHLT (Betts, Hall Leavell, and Trucks), the Gregg Allman Band, and has appeared as a featured guest artist with multiple groups.
A big part of the Jimmy Hall narrative has been his extensive friendship and musical collaboration with Jeff Beck. Beck’s Flash album, recorded in 1985, featured Jimmy Hall on vocals for Ambitious, Stop Look and Listen, and Gets Us All in the End. This album garnered a 1986 GRAMMY nomination. Jimmy toured internationally over the decades with Jeff Beck, playing in many of the world’s top venues.
Jimmy’s vocals and harmonica appears on Jeff’s critically acclaimed Live + album recorded in 2015. He’s also included on Jeff’s 2017 DVD/2CD album Live at The Hollywood Bowl celebrating Jeff`s 50th year in music. There, he joined forces onstage with Billy Gibbons, Buddy Guy, Jan Hammer, Beth Hart, and Steven Tyler to celebrate this historic event. From 2014 to 2019, Jimmy was the premier vocalist with Jeff Beck and his band on world tour across Europe and the U.S. In August of 2019, Rolling Stone magazine praised Jimmy as, “one of the few singers who can fill (Rod) Stewart’s shoes.”
On the heels of this successful tour, Jimmy was invited to join Rock royalty sons Devon Allman and Duane Betts for the Allman Family Revival, a tribute to Gregg and Duane Allman`s music. They performed live at the historic re-opening of Capricorn Recording Studios in Macon, Georgia. Regionally, Hall co-headlined the official Alabama State Bicentennial grand finale concert at the state capitol. He was featured on National Public Radio promoting musical artists and other talents originating from Alabama.
In 2020, Blackberry Smoke recorded with Hall for remakes of Wet Willie classics “Keep on Smilin’” and “Grits Ain’t Groceries,” both done in the historic Capricorn Recording Studios.
Following the 2020 pandemic outbreak, Hall focused on collaborating with other songwriters to prepare songs for his highly anticipated, new album, produced by Blues luminary, Joe Bonamassa.
During this time, Jimmy was featured on harmonica on Cheap Trick’s album, In Another World. In 2021, Jimmy Hall received a Grammy Award as a guest artist on the Fisk Jubilee Singer`s Celebrating Fisk! in the Best Roots Gospel category with his recording of the Hank Williams’ classic “I Saw The Light.” This performance encapsulates Hall’s energetic, uplifting spirit, strutting forward to a bright post-pandemic horizon!
Fall of 2022 is an exciting time for Jimmy Hall, as his forthcoming new album, Ready Now, produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, will be released on Bonamassa’s KTBA Records on 16th September 2022.
Sacramento’s K-ZAP 93.3 FM plays Jimmy Hall. All part of 50 years of Rock, Blues and More, 24-7 on our station’s stream at K-ZAP.ORG/LISTEN/
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