Amarillo High graduate, Singer Jimmy Gilmer dies at 83

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors announced that James “Jimmy” Axley Gilmer, former Amarillo High School graduate, and singer has died at age 83.

According to the funeral home, Gilmer died on Sept. 8. A service will be held for Gilmer at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Harpeth Hills Memorial Gardens.

The funeral home posted details, that he was born on Sept. 15, 1940 in Chicago Illinois. Gilmer graduated form Amarillo High School in 1958, he later moved to Clovis, New Mexico where he began his career as a young musician.

Jimmy then joined “The Fireballs”, a popular American rock and roll group. Some know the group as Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs, together they shared many big songs, including “Sugar Shack”, which was named the record of the year in 1963.

After his music career, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he enjoyed a distinguished career as a music publisher and personal manager. BB post added that Gilmer was a member of the Brook Hollow Church for about 40 years before retiring and returning to Amarillo.

Jimmy enjoyed playing golf, traveling, and spending time with friends.

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