Jimi Jamison

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

For 2002, they recorded "Christmas is Here", which reached No. 6 on the Mediabase Christmas charts.

Jamison reunited with Survivor in March 2000, replacing original singer Dave Bickler once again. The band then began recording material for a new album.

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.

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.

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 (with Cory Lerios and John D'Andrea) 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 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 [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.

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.

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 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 (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).

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.

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.

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" (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), 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.

In 1982, Jamison teamed up with guitarist Mandy Meyer (ex-Krokus), guitarist/keyboardist Jack Holder (ex-Black Oak Arkansas), 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.

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.

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.

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.

Jamison fronted the Memphis southern rock band Target in the early 1970s. 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". They opened concerts for Black Sabbath, Boston, and KISS.

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 (Messick Jr.) 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.

Jimmy Wayne Jamison (August 23, 1951 – September 1, 2014) 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.