Jimmy Nichols was born James Ginnetti, and was raised in Columbus, Ohio where he and his 7 brothers and sisters shared a musical upbringing with their Father, pianist Joey “Nichols” Ginnetti, and their mom, Marion. Mom raised her eight children alone when their Dad died suddenly of cancer. The four brothers started playing professionally when Jimmy was only ten years old. They went on to become the Nichols Brothers, and toured the country for 24 years, until a potential record deal brought Jimmy and his Brothers to Nashville in 1994.
Working in a recording studio that was co-owned by Grammy-winning producer/songwriter David Malloy proved fateful when David, through advise from session player Spady Brannon, started using Jimmy on all his sessions. With no musical training and without the ability to read music, Jimmy quickly became one of the busiest session players in town. His first master was with David on Mindy McCready’s debut album, both playing and singing all the background vocals on 9 of the ten cuts. The album sold over 2 million copies. His credit list has risen quickly in his short twelve years in town, and include Elton John, Lee Ann Womack, Reba McEntire, Andy Griggs, Mindy McCready, Billy Gilman, BJ Thomas, Keith Urban, Lonestar, Jo Dee Messina, and most recently of course, Faith Hill.
Jimmy has also toured for 4 years with Reba as musical director, and just finished a two year national tour as musical director of Soul 2 Soul II, with Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, which has become the biggest country tour in history.
Jimmy lives in Nashville with his wife Tonya and their three wiener dogs, Elton, Taupin, and Mongo. Jimmy and his lovely wife are president/VP of Nashville based Black River Music Group, LLC which is home to country artists Jeff Bates, Sarah Darling, and Emma Jacob. Find out more about BRMG at www.blackrivermusicgroup.com
ARTIST CREDITS
Faith Hill, Daryle Singletary, B.J. Thomas, Marty Brown, Mindy McCready, Larry Gatlin, Al Denson, Juice Newton, Chalee Tennison, Andy Griggs, Chad Austin, Billy Gilman, Ray Hood, Ricochet, Elton John, Rita Coolidge, Jim Peterik & World Stage, Lila McCann, Tim Rushlow, The Martins, Jerry Kilgore, Trick Pony, Van-Zant, Alabama, Hank Williams, Jr.
Sherrié Austin, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Keith Urban, Blue County, Lane Brody
Lonestar, Craig Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Jeff Bates, Lee Ann Womack, Shawn King, Blaine Larsen, Jessica Simpson (credited as James Ginnetti), Bill Medley, Brooks & Dunn, John Mellencamp.
