A legendary American songwriter who penned hits for Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra
and Nina Simone, Jimmy Webb went on to enjoy an acclaimed 40-year solo career in
his own right, as well as writing musicals, film scores and television jingles.
The son of a Baptist minister, Webb (real name James Layne) grew up in rural
Oklahoma playing piano in his father's churches, but moved to Los Angeles to
study and pursue a music career in the mid-1960s. His first published songs were
recorded by Motown artists, including The Supremes, before he made his name when
Johnny Rivers' group 5th Dim...