JIMI LEE - Vocals, Harmonica, Guitar
JIMI LEE is a smokin’ harmonica player, award-winning songwriter and performer. His dynamic vocals and searing harmonica solos have been turning heads for quite a while earning him great reviews and ‘pre-legendary’ status in the Austin music scene. Over the years, JIMI has ignited stages alongside giants such as Muddy Waters, Bobby Blue Bland, John Lee Hooker, Willie Nelson, Clarence Clemons, Stephen Stills, Coco Montoya, Pinetop Perkins, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, Kim Wilson, Mark Hummel, Jason Ricci, and Chicago’s own “shuffle master” Sam Lay.
JIMI LEE grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. After relocating to Hawaii, he spent 12 years captivating audiences from around the world and was voted Best In the State by the Hawaiian Blues Society. He now resides in Austin, Texas where the Austin Blues Society awarded him First Place in the Solo/Duo category at the Heart O’ Texas Blues Challenge 2008, and was first to represent Austin at the Blues Foundation International Blues Challenge 2009 in Memphis. JIMI LEE won in Austin again this year and made Austinites proud when he won the 2010 International Blues Challenge Semi-Finals in Memphis. He competed at the Finals as one of the top eight Solo/Duo acts in the world. The “Best of the Best” as the Blues Foundation puts it.
JIMI was awarded First Place in Blues in 2008 by the Austin Songwriters Group for his song “Pocket Full of Soul”. This followed his 2006 win with “Laundromat” and his 2005 win with “Where Are You Tonight”. The 2005 contest was held by Austin Songwriter Group and Nashville Songwriters Association International. It was a big First Place win for JIMI LEE. He went on to win even more that year with a First Place in the Pop category with “I Wanna Kiss You So Bad”, and Third Place in Blues Rock with “Cheap Thrills”.
The Austin Chapter of the Harmonica Organization of Texas declared JIMI LEE “one of the best in the world” at playing harmonica in the rack and guitar simultaneously. The 2008 spring issue of Harmonica Happenings magazine featured JIMI in an article entitled “Rack ‘Em Up! Playing Harp In A Neck Rack: A Q&A With Jimi Lee”.
JIMI has performed at the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica at the Harmonica World convention every year since his first appearance in 2003. Harmonica World convention leaders say’ “Jimi is part of the tradition.” JIMI LEE has traveled the country as harmonica coach and guitarist for Jon Gindick’s Harmonica Jam Camp.
JIMI shares USA endorsement’s for Seydel Harmonicas with James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Howard Levy and Mark Hummel. He also endorses the Hetrick Harmonica Case and Lone Wolf Blues Company harmonica pedals.
JIMI’s sound radiates an energy that moves the audience. You can feel the music as he belts out his original songs. JIMI LEE is a real experience you will want to have again and again.