Saxophone Instructor

Professor Jimmy Sims – aka “Sims-on-Sax” grew up playing the piano at the age of 9. His piano teacher was an elementary catholic school Nunn who would painfully pluck your fingers with a wooden ruler for every wrong note played during lessons. After three years of sore fingers, Jimmy saw a gospel saxophonist named Vernard Johnson at a church function and instantly decided that the saxophone was his instrument of choice.  He was so inspired by Vernard Johnson that he would practice every day for 2 years until one day a sequence of notes blew out from the saxophone. As he practiced each day learning to various saxophone artist and vocalist slowly more notes came from his saxophone. By the age of 19 Jimmy was playing as a guest soloist throughout the State of California, and in other cities across the U.S.

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Upon graduating from college and accepting his first full-time job at age 23, Jimmy stopped playing the saxophone to pursue his new career in teaching and coaching sports. Since teaching and coaching was so time consuming, he did not pick up his horn for over 25 years. But one day at a family function his cousin who was a church pianist/organist spoke some encouraging words about the gift of music. The next day Jimmy took the greenish moss/algae looking old saxophone from the garage to the repairman for a complete saxophone cleaning overhaul.  For the next several years, Jimmy was given the opportunity to serve as the gospel saxophonist for the late Dr. E.V, Jr at the Spirit of Zion Fellowship Church.  This is where the growth, musical mid set, maturity, practice habits became part of my soul. Here is where he learned to play the saxophone from the spirit. Today, Jimmy knows that he has a unique gift in music and wants to share with those who will listen.

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Over the years he has learned how to develop his music by surrounding himself around professional musicians, recording the studio, and by listen to an extensive and varied musical repertoire that includes gospel and jazz. He has been taught music friends that reading music is a very important skill to learning, and that it will take you further into the world of music.

Today, Jimmy Sims is under the mentorship of Richard "88 Fingers" Turner, Jr who is a is a phenomenal producer, songwriter and performer.

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Jimmy has been experienced being in live performances and mentored with various professionals throughout his career. Keyboardist Richard Turner, Jr, guitarist Takahito Mori, Songwriter/Keyboardist/Recording Artist-Gail Johnson, Percussionist-Ronnie Kaufman, Music Direct/Songwriter/ Recording Artist Anthony Wilkins, Song Writer/Recording Artist-Donald Hayes. Each of these talented musicians has played an important role in Jimmyu’s music career one way or another. 

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He has played at some of the following Venues: Leimert Park Jazz Festival, USC Rose Garden Festival, UC Davis Family Festival, The Taste of Soul Jazz Festival, Several Juneteenth Jazz Festival, House of Blues, LA Valley College Music Day, County Fairs Throughout Southern California, and Churches of all denominations. jazz festivals, coffee jazz lounges, Special Guest for Awards Banquets, and a variety of other music related concerts and events.

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In 2022 Jimmy recorded his first single called “Too Much” which can be heard on various music platforms.  In 2025, he has recorded and completed his second single called “Gracious Man” which will be on various music platforms November 2025.