"A writer friend once told me that his publisher told him to "write what you know".  It makes perfect sense. You can't write what you don't know about really, or at least make it believable. So I took that to heart and decided to listen to my friend.  What I know is  deep seeded depression, disappointment, and life through good and bad. I know what it's like to trust the hand of God to move and then watch it move in a way that was totally the opposite of what I thought it should!  Yet through that one of my most personal songs was writtten with my friend called "The Hand of God". Writing is something I do because I love to watch a simple idea come to life. I also love to see what the power of words can do in a person's life."

In 1987, fresh out of college with a B.A. degree, Jimi decided to take a leap of faith and make his love of music his profession and livelihood. Along with a friend he formed a band 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 in the Christian music world.  This band found  a label home first at the Benson Music Group, one of gospel music's largest labels. A few years later the band would sign with Gray Dot out of Atlanta. As a songwriter Jimi would pen nearly all of AOF's songs including the #1 hit "The Love of Jesus" and the top hit "Red Carpet". He would also co-write the #5 hit for Star Song recording artist Brian Barrett called "He Still Moves Stones". AOF played nearly 150 concerts a year until the band parted ways in late 2000.

When AOF stopped Jimi began a small solo career but never stayed on the road like he once did. "I found that I was completely worn out. My desire to go back on the road was so agonizing that I just felt like there was no way I could do that again.  For the next 7-8 years I worked different jobs just to pay bills. Life was totally different for me at that point and I soon found myself completely engulfed in a world I didn't like and depression took over. " That disease would lead him to write his first book "I Wish It Would Rain". Released on Trafford Publishing it told the story of his own personal and devestating bout with depression. This book chronicles Jimi's life as a kid growing up in a small town in North Carolina through the band years and finally through the years living with the disease. This book is scheduled for a re-release in 2010 with new updated chapters.

The craft of writing songs is one that Jimi constantly strives to get better at. "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." He found some small 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 for to rave revues while doing tour dates with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Eric Church. While writing music for mainstream artists, he still writes music for the Christian market as well.

Still playing out live, Jimi's audience has expanded to more than just the church 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!".

In December 2006 Jimi became the music director for Venture Church in his hometown. "Our church is very modern in our  approach but at the same time we are right on point with the vision of helping change lives. We build houses for the homeless through Habitat for Humanity, we reach out to those that have been shunned by the local church. Many of the folks in our services every Sunday have either never been to church OR have a terrible taste in their mouth from a bad experience with the local church. Somewhere along the way God was not presented to them as a loving, forgiving God but yet a God that wrote down every mistake they made in order to punish them later. In other words grace was never an issue. It as always about works. That's not the gospel. That's not it at all. At Venture we want people to come as they are. We want people to experience love, compassion and forgiveness. Being able to stand in front of people and watch as God moves through music into the hearts of people is amazing. I know it's nothing I do. And I am humbled that  almighty God has chosen me to lead his people."

"I have been tremendously blessed. I have been able to make music my career. I have been gifted with the ability to relate to people from so many different walks of life. I love connecting with people through my songs. I can go into a church and sing songs completely and directly about God while also sharing my struggles with depression and life in general and about God's grace and provision. I can also go into a coffeehouse or other venue and simply sing songs about life. Music is the great communicator, and I'm so glad I've been given that opportunity!"