Jimmy Gilmer

Gilmer was born in Chicago and raised in Amarillo, Texas. As a performer, he is best known for the 1963 radio smash, “Sugar Shack,” credited to Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs. Before that breakout hit, Gilmer was working as a session vocalist in Norman Petty’s studio in Clovis, New Mexico, where Buddy Holly frequently recorded. When the The Fireballs flamed out, Gilmer moved to Nashville in 1970 and established himself in music publishing at United Artists Music. In the following years, he held executive roles with CBS Songs, EMI, and SBK, and managed the early career of Brad Paisley. In addition, Gilmer held the position of president of the Nashville chapter of The Recording Academy from 1989 to 1991. He graduated from the Leadership Music program in 1992.