Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Webb
“Jimmy Webb is one of the only contemporary songwriters who can write songs right into the orchestra, and his songs have 17-layer emotions and sophisticated chord changes that are absolutely dazzling.”
Biography
Oklahoma native and one of America’ most popular composers, Jimmy Webb has penned numerous hits including “Galveston,” “The Highwayman,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Up, Up and Away,” “Didn’t We,” and “McArthur Park.” He was the first artist ever to receive Grammy awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration, and he is a member of the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.
Mr. Webb began his film-scoring career in 1968 when he wrote the title song and a mid-summer hit “Montage” for the James Garner-Debbie Reynolds comedy How Sweet It Is! He also composed the theme music for the 1989 U.S. Olympic Festival in central Oklahoma and was recognized as Oklahoma’s Ambassador of Goodwill in 1979. He was inducted onto the board of directors for The Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in early 2000 and also serves on the board for ASCAP.
Fun fact
In celebration of Oklahoma’s Centennial of Statehood in 2007, Jimmy Webb composed the 16-minute Centennial Suite for orchestra. He also joined another of Oklahoma’s favorite sons, Vince Gill, to compose the song Oklahoma Rising –in remembrance of the state’s early days and in exploration of its promise for the 21st century.
Oklahoma connections
Webb was born in Elk City, Oklahoma, and raised in Laverne.