Jimmy trained as a child chorister in St Pauls Cathedral Choir with professional performances alongside Diana Ross, Jose Carreras, Annie Lennox and even The Muppets. Jimmy sang on numerous albums releases, theme tunes and soundtracks including George Lucas and Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Land Before Time’; and with the Choir toured the US and Europe. As a teenager Jimmy joined the National Youth Music Theatre and appeared in the acclaimed production of Bugsy Malone which transferred to the West End.
Jimmy went on to study under Nick Ingman at the Royal Academy of Music in London with visiting professors including Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Elton John, Michael Kamen and Richard Rodney Bennett. Â This was followed by prolific career as a musical director, composer and performer, working on shows such as Evita, The Prince & The Pauper, Fiddler on the Roof, All You Need Is Love!, Strike Up The Band, Mamma Mia! and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Jimmy toured worldwide for five years with members of The Who, Spandau Ballet, YES, Free, Bad Company, Procol Harum, The Alan Parsons Project, Peter Frampton, Alice Cooper, Billy Preston, Paul Young, Darlene Love, the Harlem Boys Choir and The British Rock Symphony.
As a composer Jimmy has had his music recorded by The London Symphony Orchestra in Abbey Road, his choral works sung by choirs across Europe and The Americas, and his musicals are regularly performed on the regional UK Theatre circuit. Jimmy orchestrated the national tours of ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ and ‘Elliot Ness’ for the US markets, as well as writing charts for numerous pop releases. Jimmy’s songs feature in the Trinity College Musical Theatre International Exam Syllabus, and his song for Dan and Phil reached No.1 in 9 countries, earning a Gold Disc. Numerous recordings include Louise Dearman’s debut album ‘You and I’, Lionel Richie’s ‘Live in Hanover’ and Eric Clapton’s Grammy award winning ‘Reptile.
As a producer Jimmy has presented three seasons at the Edinburgh Festival, the world tour of Dietrich: Natural Duty, Britten in Brooklyn at Wiltons Music Hall, Lunch & The Bow of Ulysses at Trafalgar Studios, and was associate producer on Memphis The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre and The Mentalists at The Wyndhams.
Jimmy was Lead Artist for Birmingham’s Gallery 37 arts participation programme for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, was Associate Director of the Theatre Royal Plymouth from 2006-2009, sat on the board of the British Youth Music Theatre, and for ten years was a regular guest artist on BBC Radio Five Live’s Breakfast, Drive, Matthew Bannister and Anita Anand shows. Jimmy currently sits on the Disability and Inclusion working group for the Personal Manager’s Association, on the committee of the Night for Life for the National Brain Appeal and was Chairman of Cancer Research UK North Essex for three years.
Jimmy founded JWL Artists in 2005, and in 2015 he was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for his ‘outstanding contribution to the UK music industry’.
