Jim, a native of Pontotoc, Mississippi, began writing songs when he was only thirteen years old. During high school and college he and his various bands played dates throughout the south. Upon graduation he entered the University of Mississippi where he became an All-Southeastern Conference quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels football team.

Jim and his wife Cynthia moved to Nashville from Los Angeles, where they met in an acting class. They are the proud parents of daughter, Brighton, and son, Zack.

During his years in L.A., Jim had songs which not only became pop standards, but also crossed over to R&B, country, gospel and jazz. "Neither One Of Us Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye" was a number one pop/soul hit and won a Grammy for Gladys Knight & The Pips. The next year it became a country hit for the late Bob Luman.

"The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me" was #1 R&B and a pop hit for Gladys Knight and The Pips, and later became a #1 country hit for Ray Price. "Midnight Train To Georgia" was also a #1 Pop/R&B hit and helped Gladys Knight & The Pips win another Grammy. Jim was nominated for a Grammy as songwriter in the R&B category.

Jim's songs have earned him more than thirty ASCAP writer awards, but he's also recorded seven albums of his own as an artist. "The Need To Be" reached #6 on the pop charts during the mid-seventies.

In 1974 Jim was named NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) Songwriter of the Year.

Since moving to Nashville, Jim has continued to enjoy success. His self-published song "Love Never Broke Anyone's Heart", which he co-wrote with Vince Gill, is on Vince's "I Still Believe In You" album, selling over four million copies to date.

He and Vince also teamed up to write "If I Didn't Have You In My World" for the double-platinum "Pocket Full Of Gold" album.

"A Lady Like You " was #1 on the country charts for Glen Campbell, and "Where Shadows Never Fall", also recorded by Campbell, won Jim his first Dove Award. Bryan White had his first #1 country hit with Jim's "Someone Else's Star". Jim co-wrote "You Know How I Feel" with Bryan for his debut album.

Jim has also had cuts by such diversified artists as Steve Wariner, Dan Seals, Linda Davis, Marie Osmond, Bill Anderson, Charley Pride, Eddy Arnold, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Peter Cetera, The Indigo Girls, Jeff Carson, Lee Greenwood and Kenny Rogers.