Daily Inspiration: Meet Jimmy Khoury

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jimmy Khoury.

Hi Jimmy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Fall River, MA in 1966 to a musical family. I have two siblings who are much older than I and they turned me onto all of the best rock n roll that was happening in their world at the time. My dad passed away when I was seven years old, so my mother was eager to have me play music. She and my uncle supported my brother and I fully, he and I played in a band for eight years in New England before I moved to Los Angeles in 1987 to attend the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. I’ve been onstage playing guitar professionally since I was eleven years old.

After graduating from MI, I had six years of jobs and bands in Los Angeles. I worked as a guitar tech at Andy Brauers Studio Rentals, tending to serious A-list session players in The late ’80s and early ’90s. Tremendous experience.

When I moved to Los Angeles, my best friend to this day, David Reitzas (7-time Grammy-winning mixer), had moved out two years before and he was a huge influence on me coming out here to pursue a career in music. Dave really helped me get to know how things move in Los Angeles.

Fast forward to 1992. This is when I met Tal Herzberg (Grammy-nominated engineer). He and I, together with Beth Hart formed the first incarnation of the Beth Hart Band. We worked everywhere before we got signed by David Foster and Jason Flom to Atlantic Record. It was incredible playing around the world and writing and recording rock n roll! LollaPalooza was definitely a highlight! It was an incredible run for a good six years. It literally went from playing on a rug at the 3rd St. Promenade to a record deal and touring.

In 1998, while still with Beth Hart, I got the opportunity to play guitar and tour with LA legend Joan Jones from the band Sun 60. We toured with Seal and Fastball for months. I still play, write and produce with Joan today!

In 2002, the Macintosh computer came into my life. I built a studio in my little apartment and got a ton of work making music for TV, Film and Radio.

I dove into this world deeply. Most of my work from 2002 to 2019 was music composition at home. In 2004, The Transcenders Music Production team invited me to score the NBC sitcom JOEY with them which was a spin-off of FRIENDS. We won a BMI award in 2005 for the most-watched sitcom, it was great! We got two seasons and it was an amazing experience. The Transcenders had me play on many sessions from Super Bowl commercials and movies to pop artists.

In 2006, I started composing Classic Rock and Modern Rock for IHEART Media. I would compose 20, 60-second pieces of music per month for 13 years until the program, Brown Bag Music Library came to an end.

I’ve been blessed with stints with Wilson Phillips and Ashenmoon.

I spent most of 2021 at the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas playing guitar in the 27 Show. A residency of seven months produced by Ramy El Batrawi and Erik Himel. Written by James DeAsandro, the show is a story about six great rockers who passed away at the age of 27. From Robert Johnson to Amy Winehouse.

These days I’ve been spending a great deal of time in my new studio writing and recording with some great artists like Bernie Barlow, John Bigham and Joan Jones!

It’s been a long incredible ride with so much detail. Played at every big club and recorded in many of the great studios that Los Angeles had and has. This city has given me so much life! It has shown me the world in a way only California can. Always way out in front of music, culture and technology.

To get to say that I carted my hero guitar player’s gear to the Tonight Show and then actually play the Tonight Show is the stuff that dreams are made of. To say that I got to work in Sunset Sound or Ocean Way studios as well as being on the forefront of digital music technology with David Reitzas and Tal Herzberg is mind-blowing.

And the beat goes on!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I liken it to the weather. Sometimes it’s just beautiful and sometimes the storms have kicked up. With everything in between. It’s been a journey in life and a Voyage in LA for sure. You don’t realize this as a kid. You’re only thinking about rock n roll and how to get to the top!

When the first Beth Hart Band broke up, that was the toughest hurdle that I had to clear. We regathered, but it wasn’t the same. However, Beth and I got to perform in LOVE JANIS, an off-broadway play at the Cleveland Playhouse in 1999. The play was written by Laura Joplin, Janis’ sister and the musical director was Sam Andrew from The original Big Brother and the Holding Company.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a professional musician/guitarist. I have played with the best musicians and producers in the world and write and produce music here in my home studio. I still play shows with artists and productions. I would say I’m best known for my work with the Beth Hart Band, Wilson Phillips, Joan Jones, and The 27 Show Las Vegas.

I composed two documentaries with Brook Silver Braga, One Day In Africa and the backpacker cult classic, A Map For Saturday. I won the BMI award for the most watched sitcom in 2005, NBC’s JOEY.

I don’t know what sets me apart from others but I do know that I have a God-given talent that I’ve worked very hard to refine. It is way more important to me to be good at what I do than to be famous.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think Talent and downright love for music, guitar and rock n roll. In my family, we faced a lot of sadness when our dad passed away. Music brings us through all of life’s trials and tribulations. It is the language of our soul. Also, I’m never late, out of tune, out of time or distasteful musically! LOL!!!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: jimmykguitars
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-khoury-66480636 

Image Credits
Photos by Gina Chick and Jim Digiovanni