At the age of 10, Jimi's dad brought home two things that would change his life. First was a very cheap acoustic guitar. That "Stella" would help Jimi fall in love with music. The second item was a recording of John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High". He would listen that record beginning to end over and over again. "I loved that record. The way he wrote, the way his melodies were written, and his song structure would stay with me that day on. I took that little guitar, took one lesson and then decided just to teach myself. So growing up, my life was mostly consumed with music and sports. Eventually I realized that I could sing and started playing and singing in public, but mostly at church. That began what would be my life career choice."

In 1987, fresh out of college with a B.A. degree, Jimi decided to make his love of music his profession and livelihood. Along with a friend he formed an acoustic-rock band in the musical vein of Hootie and The Blowfish and Matchbox Twenty that would later be named Age of Faith. Through the next 13 years AOF would go through several member changes but would remain constant as a touring, recording and working band.  This band found  a label home first at the Benson Music Group. A few years later the band would sign with Gray Dot/Sony out of Atlanta.The band recorded 5 nationally released projects garnering positive revues from critics.  As a songwriter Jimi would pen nearly all of AOF's songs including the #1 hit "The Love of Jesus" and the top 20 hit  "Red Carpet". The band's first video "Walk In My Shoes" also peaked at #5 on the Z-Jam TV Network. AOF played nearly 150 concerts a year, in nearly all 50 states and parts of Canada until the band parted ways in late 2000. He would then do some solo work and also host two seperate television shows "Replay", a music video show, and "Profiles With Jimi Ray." Profiles would find Jimi interviewing other music artists like Charlie Daniels and Dez Dickerson (Prince and the Revolution). For the next several years he would free-lance as an on camera talent for different television shows.

He also later wrote his first book, "I Wish It Would Rain", detailing his daily ongoing struggle with the disease of depression. Currently as of early 2011 that book is being updated with new chapters. It will also be released in late summer 2011 as an audio book and be available for download.

The craft of writing songs is one that Jimi constantly strives to get better at. "First and foremost I am now a songwriter and then a performer. I love writing stuff that people relate to everyday. Songs have a way of changing people's lives and it's such an honor to write something that absolutely touches another person. I try to co-write with other great writers in order to not only learn from them but also to allow more than one mind to work on an idea. I have learned so much from other writers. I consider myself a good writer but with tons and tons to learn." Jimi found some  success as a co-writer with Brian White (Trace Adkins, Neal McCoy, and the 2007 mega CMA hit "Watching You" from Rodney Atkins) on the #1 internet and independent radio hit "See If I Care" from country artist Charlie Allen. In 2010 he co-wrote the title cut and first single for southern rock band Swampdawamp called "Rock This Country". Swampdawamp premiered this song  to rave revues while doing tour dates with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Eric Church. "Regardless of success, I don't write songs for the glory of it, I write them to touch people. My songs are all written from deep inside and based upon my faith. I believe God uses everything in life to touch people. That is enough for me to continue to write."

Compared musically  to artists like Jeffrey Gaines, Jackson Browne, James Taylor and Chris Robinson, his audience has expanded to more than just the audience he played for during the AOF years."I don't like being tied down to one type of audience. I've always believed that music is such a great way to communicate with people, regardless of their religious beliefs, economic status, race, or whatever. Sometimes folks just want to sit back and listen to good songs, whether they are originals or covers. Sometimes people are there to listen, sometimes they are there for other reasons and I am just background music!. My originals that I play live are all written based upon my faith, and I try to play other artists that have songs with something to say. And then sometimes I play songs because, very simply, they are just fun to play and folks just want to hear!"

In late 2006, a local church that was in the midst of making tremendous changes in their methodology contacted Jimi to lead their music. It was a perfect fit mainly because of his experience and background but also because it was a church that preached the same belief system Jimi adhered to. The church, now called VENTURE, is presently growing at a rapid pace and Jimi leads a dynamic band every Sunday in the church's gatherings. "Growing up in the church and seeing so many different belief systems even in the protestant faith churches, I could only be a part of one that believed like I did, and was committed to having an excellent music program. Also it had to be a place where you "came as you are". It had to reach out to those that are basically done with church because they've been hurt or misguided. It had to be mission minded and reach hurting people. It also had to be a place that I didn't have to pretend to have it all together because I was on stage. It's cool. I can be who I am with no apologies."

While much of his music was released through his former band, he now records much of his stuff at his home studio. Jimi's acoustic roots shine clearly in his newest recordings. Much of the new projects are simply singer/songwriter, guitar and vocal releases. Most of these releases feature original material but some releases are simply Jimi's versions of other artist's and writer's material.

It's been many years since that first John Denver record was introduced in his life but those influences still remain strong.  Whether solo, as a duo with other friends, or with a band, Jimi works in just about any situation that calls for great music!