Jimmy let loose with a monster bass solo and the crowd went wild. From that day on, this became part of the tour, and Jimmy McAfee has been known as “Jimmy Mack” ever since.
As mentioned at the opening of this biography, the constant touring, recording and partying that is a frequent component of a successful musician’s life finally began to wear on Jimmy. After recording a rock video with The 50/50 Band in late1988, Jimmy realized he needed to take a break from the frenetic pace of the West Coast music scene and moved to Sedona, Arizona known for its majestic beauty and contemplative new-age residents. Jimmy spent the following two years meditating and writing music, while routinely performing with such respected musicians as Francine Reed (Lyle Lovett) and Motown Hall of Fame drummer Jerome Teasley (Junior Walker and the All Stars).
In 1991-92 Jimmy recorded the album “Walk The Line’ with Mary Wilson of The Supremes, only the second solo album that Ms. Wilson recorded in the previous 30 years. “Walk The Line” was released in August 1992 and included the hit single “One Night With You”.
Jimmy began recording and touring nationally and internationally with Richie Havens in 1993 and performed with Richie through 1996. One of the highlights of Jimmy’s time with Richie was performing at the original site of Woodstock for the Bethel 25th Anniversary Woodstock Concert. In addition to Richie and Jimmy, other performers included Country Joe McDonald, Melanie, John Sebastian, Mountain, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Canned Heat, Iron Butterfly and Sha Na Na, as well as Fleetwood Mac, Judy Collins, the Chambers Brothers, Tom Paxton and Leon Russell. Jimmy appeared with Richie on ABCs “Live in Concert” broadcast and recorded the “Cuts To The Chase” album released in 1994 by Rhino records.
In 1996 Richie decided to tour once again as a solo act. Jimmy formed the rock band Thomas Thomas and toured regionally until 2000 when Jimmy was asked to create and arrange the score for a television pilot in pre-production. The show was not picked up by the networks, but Jimmy continued to work in broadcast media creating and performing soundtracks and voiceovers for commercials. During that time, Jimmy also performed regularly with Arizona Blues hall of Fame Artists Hank Tomlin and Tommy Dukes.
In 2003-04 Jimmy recorded the album “One Mans Trash” with Jeff Bell which included the hit single “I’m a Dog” and in 2005 toured nationally in support of the album.
Another highlight of his career was Jimmy’s induction into The Arizona Blues Hall Of Fame in 2004. Jimmy was inducted for making a lasting and substantial contribution to the blues culture in the State of Arizona. At his induction, Jimmy was described as “a living blues legend”.
From 2005 to 2008 Jimmy again took a hiatus from touring and performing, and except for an occasional guest appearance for his friends in the industry, focused his energies
on songwriting and arranging his first his solo album. Jimmy also served as Production/Stage Manager for the internationally renown “Jazz on the Rocks Festival” with which he has been associated with for the past 11 years
In 2009 Jimmy commuted between Sedona and Nashville, TN where he recorded an album with Jetsunma Ahkon Lham, (the first Western woman to be named a reincarnate Lama in Tibetan Buddhism), Wayne “Tex” Gabriel (John Lennon, Mick Jagger) and Louis Winfield. The record, named “Lineage of Queens” is in post production, scheduled for release late 2010. A three song EP “Trilogy” has recently been released.
In November of 2009 Jimmy once again stopped to take stock of his life and accomplishments. Jimmy had performed and recorded with some of the best musicians of our time, and appeared with countless others. He had acquired a vast technical knowledge of audio equipment and event production, tour and stage management, and he had a deep understanding of the music business as a whole. When he had been named to the “Arizona Blues Hall of Fame” for his accomplishments, Jimmy realized his knowledge and experience would be of significant value to less experienced artists. With that in mind, Jimmy created “Wicked Creek Productions” with two other partners. Jimmy has envisioned Wicked Creek Productions as a new concept for an artist management and development firm, one that is cognizant of and structured to reflect the current realities of the entertainment industry in the 21st Century.
Jimmy has a very full plate for 2011. He is collaborating on a major project that will be showcasing never-before released material recorded with a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee who is also featured in Rolling Stone Magazine’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. Jimmy is also completing the tracks for his first solo album (featuring a number of famous guest artists) that he hopes will be released in early 2012. Jimmy will also be touring nationally with a headlining act beginning in 2011. Finally, Jimmy will be heavily involved in guiding the careers of the talented artists that are associated with Wicked Creek Productions.