Jimmy Webb

Acclaimed singer, songwriter and composer Jimmy Webb was born on August 15, 1946 in Elk City, Oklahoma. His father was a Baptist minister. An avid lover of music since he was a little boy, Webb made his first public appearance as a performer playing the organ at his father's church. He also improvised, rearranged and re-harmonized hymns. Jimmy began his composing career with religious songs and fronted his own rock'n'roll band. The Webb family moved to Los Angeles in 1964. Jimmy attended San Bernardino Valley College and studied music. Webb's first job in the music industry was transcribing other people's songs. The first song Webb wrote that was recorded was "My Christmas Tree" for the 1965 album, "Merry Christmas, the Supremes". In 1967, Jimmy really hit his stride as a songwriter; 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 particular song had previously been recorded by Johnny Rivers on his 1966 album,