Jimi Jamison

Jimi Jamison

Jimi Jamison (born Jimmy Wayne Jamison, August 23, 1951 in Mississippi) is a rock vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer for the band Survivor from 1984-1989 and 2000-2006.

Further biography

Born in rural Mississippi, Jamison moved with his mother to Memphis, Tennessee, at a very young age, and he considers himself a Memphis native. In addition to honing his vocal abilities, Jamison dabbled in guitar growing up. By middle school, he was playing in a band.

He would later sing for the bands Target and Cobra and provided background vocals for other bands including ZZ Top. After the demise of Cobra in 1983/84, he was invited to audition for Survivor, whose then-lead singer Dave Bickler needed surgery on his vocal cords and could no longer continue with the band. Although he was initially not adamant about fronting what he considered more of a "pop rock" band, which would contrast significantly with the metal stylings of Cobra to which he had become accustomed, Jamison ultimately got the job and became Survivor's new frontman, and is today the most recognizable and best known of the group. Among his best known performances are "Burning Heart", from the Rocky IV movie with Sylvester Stallone, which hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, "High On You" (#8 US), and "The Search Is Over" (#4 US). Jamison also co-wrote and sang "I'm Always Here," the theme from the hit TV show Baywatch.

Jamison would later reunite with Survivor for a tour in 2000, and he ended up remaining with the band up through the release of their new album in 2006. In 2005, Jamison was featured in the Emmy-nominated Starbucks commercial which was a parody of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger". Ironically, Jamison was not a member of Survivor when the song was originally released in 1982. Also in 2005, Jamison performed a duet on "It Takes Two" with teen singer Whitney Wolanin.

Jamison is known for his contributions to charity, and has been a participant in the annual Rockin Christmas Fund charity fundraiser event among others. He participates with the Make-a-Wish Foundation annually.

Discography

With Survivor

• Vital Signs (1984)
• When Seconds Count (1986)
• Too Hot to Sleep (1988)
• Reach (2006)
• Ultimate Survivor (2004)
• Survivor Extended Versions MTV Live in Japan Special (2005)

Solo and other

• "If I Cry" (solo single) (1967)
• Combinations - D Beaver (1971)
• Target (self-titled) (1976)
• Captured - Target (1977)
• First Strike - Cobra (1983)
• Headhunter - Krokus (1983)(background vocals)
• When Love Comes Down - solo (1991)
• Empires - solo (1999)
• Crossroads Moment - (2008)

References

• Official Website
• Allmusic - Jimi Jamison biography
• IMDB profile - Jimi Jamison
• "I Can't Hold Back" video, with Jimi Jamison