Jimi Jamison Of Survivor Dead At 63
Survivor Jimi Jamison

Jimi Jamison Of Survivor Dead At 63

by Roger Wink, VVN Music on September 2, 2014

in News

Jimi Jamison, lead singer of Survivor, died on Sunday night from a heart attack. He was 63.

TMZ broke the news on Monday evening. Neither the official Jamison or Survivor sites or Facebook pages have posted the news.

Although born in Mississippi, he and his mother moved to Memphis the day after he was born and he considered that city his home. He learned how to sing and play guitar and piano at a young age and was already in a band in middle school.

Starting in the late 70’s, he fronted a number of bands including Target and Cobra along with doing studio work as a background vocalist for the likes of ZZ Top and Joe Walsh.

In 1984, after the breakup of Cobra, he joined Survivor who were already international stars based on their hit Eye of the Tiger. The lead singer for that hit, Dave Bickler, had suffered from vocal problems and was forced to leave the band, opening up the position for Jamison.

Survivor had a number of hits with Jamison in front including I Can’t Hold Back (1984 / #13), High On You (1985 / #8), The Search is Over (1985 / #4), Burning Heart (1985 / #2) and Is This Love (1986 / #9).

Late in the 80’s, the band’s success started to fade leading to the members going on an indefinite hiatus. Jamison began recording solo, including the 1991 album When Love Comes Down. It was that album, which didn’t chart, that kept him from accepting an offer to become the lead singer of Deep Purple when Ian Gillan was let go from the band. The record company forced him to pass on the offer to promote the new record.

Jamison would later write and sing I’m Always Here, the theme from the TV show Baywatch, and release another album under the name Jimi Jamison’s Survivor, Empires.

Survior reformed in 1993 but with Dave Bickler back on lead. When he was fired from the band in 2000, Jamison returned and stayed with the group for the next six years. After once again leaving in 2006, he rejoined in 2011 and, in 2013, Survivor became a two-lead band with the return of Bickler.

more from vvnmusic.com

Related Posts

Hoodoo Gurus Stoneage Romeos 40th anniversary edition
Hoodoo Gurus ‘Stoneage Romeos’ Turns 40

Hoodoo Gurus debut album ‘Stoneage Romeos’ turned 40 this month. The album was released in Australia in March 1984 and in the USA in September 1984.

8 hours ago
10cc in Melbourne 25 June 2023 photo by Winston Robinson
Kevin Godley Reunites With 10cc In London

10cc had a special reunion at their London show this week when former member and co-founder Kevin Godley joined the band at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday night (25 March 2024).

14 hours ago
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel To Release ‘Back To Front – Live In London’ DVD

Australia missed out on the Peter Gabriel tour but we will get the DVD.

14 hours ago
Kylie Minogue photo by Ros O'Gorman
Kylie Minogue Heartbroken By Splendour In The Grass

Kylie Minogue has expressed sadness over an Australian music festival's cancellation.

21 hours ago
Michael Jackson Thriller vinyl
Michael Jackson Jacket is Up For Auction

One of Michael Jackson’s personally owned “Thriller” jackets is being offered for sale at Gottahaverockandroll.com

23 hours ago
Tim and Neil Finn I See Red rehearsals in LA 2004
Split Enz Fans, Watch The Finn Brothers Rehearse ‘I See Red’

Split Enz/Crowded House archivist Peter Green has offered up another rare fine, Tim and Neil Finn rehearsing their Split Enz classic ‘I See Red’ in Los Angeles in 2004.

1 day ago
Bruce Springsteen Named First International Ivors Fellow

Bruce Springsteen is set become the first international songwriter to become a Fellow of The Ivors Academy.

2 days ago