Jim Mayer (musician)
James Mayer is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur and children's advocate. He is best known as a longtime bassist for Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, having played, toured[1] and recorded with Buffett since 1989. Mayer is also a children's musician and performer. He has had two Number 1 hits on Sirius/XM Kids radio, is a regular guest on national children's radio shows, and has performed live shows and presented workshops for children and educators in the U.S. and Europe.[2]
For other people named James Mayer, see James Mayer (disambiguation).
Jim Mayer
Tamil Nadu, India
Musician, singer-songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, children's advocate
Guitar, vocals
Early life and education[edit]
Mayer was born in Tamil Nadu, India, where his parents, James and Selma "Sammy" Mayer, worked as Lutheran Church missionaries[3] before returning to their hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, with their eight children.[4]
He attended Lutheran High School South. In 1978 at age 17, he received a National Endowment for the Arts grant for jazz study. He received a Manhattan School of Music and New England Conservatory Scholarship in 1980. At 19, he was a faculty member of the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Clinics at Northern Illinois University, performing with international jazz artists Pat LaBarbera and Ed Thigpen. From 1981 to 1983, he attended the St. Louis Conservatory of Music.
Awards[edit]
Mayer was named Best New XM Kids' Artist of the Year in 2004 and 2005.[13]
in 2007, he received a Children's Music Web Award for Funky as a Diaper.[14]
He was also given an iParenting Media "Hot Product" Award.[15]
Personal life[edit]
Mayer lives in Nashville, Tennessee and toured with Jimmy Buffett until the latter's death in 2023.