Jimmy Webb, the renowned singer, songwriter, and composer, was born on August 15, 1946, in Elk City, Oklahoma. His father, a Baptist minister, instilled in him a love for music from a young age. Webb's first public appearance was as a performer playing the organ at his father's church, where he would improvise, rearrange, and re-harmonize hymns.
Webb began his composing career with religious songs and fronted his own rock 'n' roll band. The Webb family relocated to Colton, California in 1964, and Jimmy attended San Bernardino Valley College, studying music. His first job in the music industry was transcribing other people's songs.
Jimmy Webb's breakthrough as a songwriter came in 1967, when he penned the hit songs "Up, Up and Away" for The 5th Dimension and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" for Glen Campbell. This was followed by numerous hit songs for Campbell, including "Galveston," "Wichita Lineman," and "Where's the Playground, Susie."
Over the years, Webb has written songs for a wide range of artists, including Richard Harris, Johnny Maestro, Art Garfunkel, Linda Ronstadt, and Joe Cocker. His ballad "The Highwayman" became a country music success when covered by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson.
In addition to his work as a songwriter, Webb has released several solo albums, including "Words and Music," "And So: On," "Letters," "Land's End," "El Mirage," "Angel Heart," "Suspending Disbelief," "Twilight of the Renegades," and "Live and At Large." He has also composed the scores for several films and television shows.
Jimmy Webb's songs have been featured on the soundtracks of numerous movies, including "How Sweet It Is!," "American Pop," "The Fabulous Baker Boys," "FernGully: The Last Rainforest," "The Santa Clause," "Get Shorty," "Heat," "The Kid," "Bridget Jones's Diary," "View from the Top," and "Chicken Little."
Throughout his career, Webb has received numerous accolades, including inductions into the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriter's Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1999 and became a member of the Board of Directors for the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in early 2000.
