Jazz man Jimmy B comes home to Canton with No. 1 Billboard song for CD signing event

Decades of toiling in the recording studio led to a No. 1 Billboard song in jazz circles earlier this year for Canton native Jimmy Baber.

A Timken High School graduate, the 64-year-old Houston resident's musical passions trace back to his teen days when he was learning to play instruments and going from gig to gig in an R&B band.

Through the ups and downs and obstacles of the music industry, he continued on as a solo artist, recording albums featuring both instrumental tracks and those with guest vocalists. But even when he recorded and released his No. 1 Billboard song, "It's Personal," a slow jazz number absent lyrics, he faced doubters.

"My wife was looking at me, everybody looked at me when I recorded that record and said, ... 'Jimmy, don't go there, don't go there (and use a horn section and faster movements)," Baber recalled with a laugh. "They told me not to do it, and I said, 'I'm going to do it.'"

But "I got favor with God," Baber said of reaching No. 1.

For Baber, rising to the top spot on the Billboard smooth jazz and Mediabase charts was a triumphant moment, but certainly not his first brush with success. Other music of his has charted on Billboard.

Baber will be returning to his roots at a CD signing event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at The Thrift Chicks store, 2729 Fulton Drive NW in Plain Township. Described in event promotions as a "smooth jazz music guitarist," Baber will have copies of his various albums on CD to sell and sign.

Jimmy B's friend wants to share his music

The event is being hosted by Jeaneen McDaniels, owner of The Thrift Chicks.

McDaniels said she invited Baber on Labor Day weekend to coincide with the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic events, which are coordinated and hosted by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"Many people who are from Canton will be in town, and I am a proud HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) graduate (Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio)," she said, referring to Baber's event as "my contribution to the weekend."

McDaniels also knew Baber and his twin brother, Johnny Baber, when they were younger. Johnny Baber played music with Jimmy in a band decades ago.

"I wanted to host Jimmy because I think it is important for the African-American community to support our hometown heroes," she said. "I hope to expose Jimmy to people who may not have been familiar with him or his music."

Jazz meets glam metal

Reaching No. 1 seems to have only provided more motivation for Baber to keep playing music that is more niche than mainstream.

"All of my music comes from what I've been through," said Baber, who also holds a job outside the music industry. "It's all about the growing pains of the industry. It's not a yellow brick road to make it in this record industry."

Music is released through Baber's Houston-based WKM Records; he's CEO of the independent label.

And he's got more surprises planned for his next album, a cover of the 1980s smash hit ballad, "Is This Love" by Whitesnake. The song's official video on YouTube has garnered 204 million views.

"I'm going to do a twist on it," he said of his treatment of the song, which will include vocals.

"I got a bowl of cereal and all the ingredients you put in there, you never limit yourself to one genre," Baber said. "I just like (the Whitesnake song). I'm a lover of all genres."

Baber is also planning a future tour with his supporting band. His biggest local show was a concert at the Canton Palace Theatre.

Baber said his sound isn't limited to smooth jazz. Past material would fall under "elevator music," as well as funk and big band, he said. New songs will veer into easy listening and soft pop.

Coming home

Baber is excited about visiting his hometown.

"That's where my roots started," said Baber, who worked in customer service at General Electric following high school, where he took classes in the vocational program prior to graduating in 1978. "I'm glad to come home. I've performed with a lot of people there."

Baber's father influenced him musically.

"When I was growing up, my father gave us some instruments," he recalled of a saxophone and trumpet.

But Baber and his twin brother wanted to play bass and guitar. His dad played piano.

Baber was also a member of the McKinley High School stage band; later he was in a local R&B group.

"When we were 15 and 16, Bill 'Butterball' White had a radio show (at WHBC) ... and we did our first (song), 'Stroking on the Phone," Baber said.

Baber's early music group Bachelor opened for The O'Jays.

Performing with Bachelor had taken Baber outside the country, incuding Japan, Singapore and Indonesia.

Baber said it was also a highlight to have O'Jays singer and Canton native Eddie Levert sing guest vocals on his 2014 gospel album.

All those years and songs keep him going, even when things get tough, he said.

"The jazz market is a nice market, but it's very small," Baber said, while reflecting on his No. 1 song. "At least I made it that far."

"I wish I would have done it when I was younger," he said. "But it took that long just to get there."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton native Jimmy B motivated by Billboard No. 1 smooth jazz song