I was born into a Christian home. My dad starting teaching me harmony from the time I started talking. My mom and dad both studied music in college. There was a strong musical influence in our home, and needless to say it must have rubbed off. I began singing at church at a very young age and the songs of the church are still my favorite today.

I surrendered to God’s call on my life to serve Him through music ministry in the spring of 1997. I have been singing the gospel at every opportunity since then and plan to sing that wondrous story until my dying death. I hope you enjoy and are blessed by our music and the ministry of Southern Psalm.

I grew up with two parents who loved the Lord and me. They taught me the things of Christ and lead me to His saving knowledge at a very young age. Both sets of my grandparents were pastors. My mother’s father was not only a pastor, but he also had a love for music. He wrote many old camp meeting songs and could play the piano wonderfully. His love for music and the Lord was passed down to my family. I have three sisters and my mother made sure all of us had piano lessons. We all grew up playing the piano and singing for the Lord in our home church.

As I have grown in the Lord, I have clung to the verses of Psalm 139, which basically say the Lord knew me before I was born, and He has a special plan for my life. Singing with Southern Psalm is another way the Lord is fulfilling His plan in my life. I can spread the message of the love of Christ to others outside of my church, bless hearts, and lift the name of Jesus Christ higher. I want all to know Jesus is my Savior and the Savior of the world.

Jimmy was born into a Christian home, his dad serving as a deacon in First Baptist Church of Richton, Mississippi. Due to his parents’ strong Christian influence, Jimmy accepted Christ as his own Savior at the age of eight.

His mother loved music, tinkered a bit with the piano, and enjoyed listening to music on the radio. Jimmy says he doesn’t ever remember not liking harmony in music. The very first time he sang in church was in a mixed quartet. He never cared much for rock music, preferring folk music such as the Brothers Four and the New Christy Minstrels. He also liked duets such as the Everly Brothers. Another strong influence was the male trio, The Lettermen- all secular groups. He can’t say that any gospel groups really influenced him until he was eighteen and surrendered to the ministry. At that time Andre Crouch and Dallas Holm and Praise became strong influences.

Jimmy attended college at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi, where he became very active in the Baptist Student Union. This is where God led him to begin in music ministry. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Church Music from William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and a Master’s in Religious Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. He served as a full-time Minister of Music for 20 years before becoming a pastor and has now been a pastor for 15 years. He loves to sing and preach and says if he had to choose between the two, he simply could not.

Jimmy married Jan Johnston in July of 1973 and their two sons are Jared and Jason. In April of 2004 they welcomed their first grandchild into the family, Joy Elizabeth, daughter of Jared and April Walley.