Destiny called Jeff into music on December 9, 1984 when his mother went into labor on the front row at his father’s concert.
This country boy, born and raised in Spencer, Oklahoma tried other avenues to find his way like basketball and football. While...
Destiny called Jeff into music on December 9, 1984 when his mother went into labor on the front row at his father’s concert.
This country boy, born and raised in Spencer, Oklahoma tried other avenues to find his way like basketball and football. While he explored these avenues including graduating from the University of Oklahoma with B.A. in film and video studies, he never let go of his family’s legacy and continued to nurture his raw talent
“Nothing makes me happier than being on stage,” he said. “The ambiance of it is so pure.”
Mims used his gospel and funk roots to grow his love for music along with such artists as James Brown, Sonny Thompson, Miles Davis, Bob Marley and many others.
Mims let this love for music and guitar evolve him into the well rounded and driven musician he has become today.
He has played in various bands such as, Touch of Love a gospel band where he got his first start playing professionally, the Chosen few and Ice Water an R&B, hip hop and jazz band he plays lead guitar in and co-founded. He has also used his passion and experiences to collaborate with various artists and producers such as George Huff, Joe Torre, Johnny Polygon, Francine Murphy, and many more.
Mims had the honor of playing in the Christopher Wray quartet, which was inducted into the OKlahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, and won the 2006 Legacy Tribute Award. The album “The Way Up” was recorded with world renowned engineer Chris Bell and made it through to the 2007 Grammy award selection process for contemporary jazz album of the year and new solo artist.
Having become a successful and highly respected artist has allowed Mims to always reflect in order to make decisions about his career and future. When asked about the respect that so many of his peers as well as friends and family have for him Mims said:
“I work so hard because I have a social responsibility to all the people who look up to me…..I want to live up to people’s expectations. People of all ages have said they admire me, its my duty to be legit.”
