Jimmy Webb
Induction Year: 1990
Birth Name: Jimmy Webb
Birth Date: August 15, 1946
Place of Birth: Elk City, OK
Biography
Education:
College--San Bernardino Valley College; studied music
Discography / Career Highlights
Career Milestones:
1952--learned to play the piano
1958--wrote first song, "Someone Else"
1964--moved to California; wrote "Didn't We" while in college
1965--headed to Hollywood and landed first job in a record studio
1966--signed contract with Johnny Rivers Music Company; Rivers put him in contact with the group the 5th Dimension
1967--the singles, "Up, Up and Away" (recorded by the 5th Dimension) and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" (recorded by Glen Campbell) released
1968--released first solo-LP, "Jim Webb Sings Jim Webb"
1968--single, "MacArthur Park" released, recorded by Richard Harris
1968--"Wichita Lineman" (recorded by Glen Campbell) goes to #1 on the Country Charts
1968--began film scoring career, with title song, "Montage," written for the James Garner-Doris Day comedy, "How Sweet It Is!"
1981--moved to New York City to try to break through on Broadway
1982--scored the animated feature film, "The Last Unicorn"
mid 1980s--Columbia Records released "The Animals' Christmas," a cantata, featuring Amy Grant, Art Garfunkel, and the London Symphony Orchestra
Awards:
1968--ACM\Song of the Year\Wichita Lineman
1986--National Academy of Popular Music\Songwriters' Hall of Fame induction
1993--National Academy of Songwriters\Lifetime Achievement Award
Catalog Highlights:
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" - Artists: Glen Campbell
"MacArthur Park" - Artists: Richard Harris, Donna Summer, Waylon Jennings and the Kimberlys
"Wichita Lineman" - Artists: Glen Campbell
"Galveston" - Artists: Glen Campbell
"All I Know" - Artists: Art Garfunkel
"Up, Up and Away" - Artists: 5th Dimension, Benny Goodman
"Honey Come Back" - Artists: Glen Campbell
"Highwayman" - Artists: Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson
"Didn't We" - Artists: Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra
"The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" - Artists: Joe Cocker, Judy Collins
"The Worst That Could Happen" - Artists: Brooklyn Bridge
Comments:
Signed first publishing contract with Motown (Jobete Music); first song published was "Honey Come Back"
Inducted into the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriter's Hall of Fame