Jimmy Tittle has been involved with the entertainment industry most of his life as a musician, songwriter, singer and performer. At the age of eighteen he was fortunate enough to experience first-hand the enormous talents of Merle Haggard, as a member of his touring and recording band, The Strangers. Jimmy recognized immediately the genius of Haggard’s songwriting and considered him to be the quintessential writer of working-class poetry. Jimmy toured and performed with Merle for the next five years playing bass guitar, earning him six Super Picker awards as well as The Academy of Country Music’s Touring Band of the Year award four consecutive years.
Jimmy left The Strangers to pursue songwriting and formed a country band with Ricky Frizzell and Danny Husky, the sons of two legendary honky tonk heroes, Lefty Frizzell and Ferlin Husky. The band toured the South extensively, gaining a large following until a tragic accident took the life of Danny Husky. Jimmy returned to Nashville and worked as a session musician while continuing to write.
In 1982, Jimmy was invited to join the cast of another legendary performer, Johnny Cash. They traveled the world over the next seven years. Jimmy participated in numerous television specials and soundtrack albums, and has small acting roles in a film and several music videos. Jimmy left The Johnny Cash Show in 1989 to pursue an independent career in writing, recording, and performing.
Bug Music in Nashville signed Jimmy in 1989 to an exclusive songwriter’s agreement and soon had his songs recorded by artists such as Jann Browne, Johnny Cash, Evangeline, Rodney Crowell and Rosanne Cash. “On the Surface†was co-written by Jimmy and Rosanne which she recorded on her critically acclaimed album, “Interiorsâ€. Jimmy has also co-written songs with Marty Stuart, John Hiatt, John Stewart, LeRoy Preston, Dave Alvin, Cindy Bullens and Rodney Crowell.
Dixiefrog Records in Paris, France contacted Jimmy and he signed a recording contract which introduced him to the European market with his albums “Jimmy Tittle†(1990) and “Fade to Black†(1991). Sony Music France released his third CD titled “Real Life†as well as a compilation of all previous works titled “Room Full of Money, Heart Full of Painâ€.
Jimmy’s works with Sony Music helped him to reach a broader audience in Europe. His records are released in France, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Norway, Spain, Germany, Italy and Australia. His blending of country roots and Southern rock is the result of many miles, powerful influences, heart and soul.