James “Jimmy” McDaniels was born in 1929 in Vinesville, Alabama, (surrounding area of Birmingham), the second son of Music Professor Charles A. McDaniel and Mrs. Willie Viola Selden. Pictured from left to right behind Prof. Charles and Mrs. Willie Viola are Leroy, the third son, James, Charles, the oldest and Braxton, the youngest. All of the brothers were saxophonist and learned to play the piano as well. They were required to practice daily and expected to play their saxophones in an annual Christmas carol serenade throughout their neighborhood.
Jimmy went on to graduate from Fairfield Industrial H.S., Miles College, and the Toledo Bach Conservatory. In addition, attending Indiana University for graduate studies in music and psychology, and later teaching a jazz course at Butler University and Indiana University in Special Topics in Music Series -The Roots of Afro-American Jazz in 1981.
In 1965, Jimmy received the Governor’s Award for outstanding service to the Indiana community for his organization of a jazz band at the Pendleton Reformatory.
In the 1970’s, as an Education Specialist, Jimmy was a soloist and guest conductor with the Indianapolis Symphony.
From 1977 into the 90's, his band performed locally everywhere, including the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Indianapolis Children's Museum, Beef 'N' Boards, Walker Theater and the Indiana Roof Ballroom.
In Addition, Jimmy McDaniels is the recipient of several Alabama proclamations. In 1988, he was recognized by Alabama Governor Guy Hunt for his outsatnding music career.
Subsequently in November 1993 receiving from both the Fairfield and Birmingham Mayors, Larry Langford and Richard Arrington, Jr., "The Jimmy McDaniels Week" and "The Jimmy McDaniels Day".
One of the citations states, "Jimmy is a person who overcame obstacles to obtain outstanding achievements in the performing arts, but his greatest achievement was as a caring human being".
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….It is after 6:00P.M. in Indianapolis....the nation’s 11th largest city. The cocktail lounges are busy, the supper clubs are beginning to fill, the piano bars feature the sounds of singing and laughter. One question keeps coming up, “Where’s Jimmy? You see there is this great guy, who’s fun and you’ll love his music. Let’s go hear Jimmy.”
Lean in close and listen.