Everybody knows at least one of Jimmy Webb‘s songs even though they may not know his name. That was not the case with the full audience at Crest Theatre at Old School Square where everyone did know his name.

Jimmy Webb

We were rewarded with a great evening of both stories and songs, mostly from his earlier days as a songwriter.

I did not realize how great a pianist he is. As he spoke of his beginnings as a songwriter in California for an imprint of Motown, his fingers were gliding over the keys, giving us a taste of what was to come.

Jimmy Webb

He is best known for his string of hits (by others such as The Fifth Dimension, Richard Harris, Art Garfunkel, and most notably Glen Campbell) – “Up, Up and Away”, “Wichita Lineman”, “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”, “All I Know”, and my personal favorite “MacArthur Park”, which he saved for the end of the show. All of these songs were part of the soundtrack of my teen years, although I did not know Jimmy wrote “All I Know”! I felt as if that song was written specifically for Art Garfunkel’s voice, and it turns out I was right!

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy spent some time talking about his dear friend Glen Campbell, who passed away last summer after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Jimmy wrote many songs which were covered by Campbell, most notably “Wichita Lineman” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”. I am used to hearing Campbell’s beautiful voice on those songs, but thoroughly enjoyed hearing Jimmy put his spin on them.

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy’s first songwriting gig when he was in his teens was as a writer at the publishing arm of Motown; as he said, he was the white guy writing for their white musicians – even though he wrote a song for a Christmas album released by The Supremes!

Jimmy Webb

I noticed that Jimmy wears colorful socks, as do I! I generally do notice when performers wear fun socks but do not always get as clear a shot of them as I did this night…

I love that Jimmy was wearing a Manuel jacket! For those who do not know, Manual has been designing clothing for just about every country-western star you know for many years and his rhinestone-bedazzled styles are easily recognizable (as is he – the last time I was in Nashville, Manuel was at one of the shows I attended). I wonder how many in the audience knew of Manuel…

Jimmy Webb

This was a show full of nostalgia for most, if not all, people in the audience. I was transported back to the days of listening to these songs on my record player (not stereo system for me yet) and left the show with a huge smile on my face.

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy Webb

Thanks to Jimmy Webb for the ticket; all opinions are my own.