Features : Bottom line to Jimmy McGees Bottom Line is wanting more of his R&B

In “Bottom Line,” listeners have an opportunity to hear some prime R&B and soul by the best artist they haven’t heard of yet: Jimmy McGee.

He’s been around, making his living in music for almost 30 years or so, all over the United States and Europe, singing and playing guitar, but now he is out with his first song in a new phase of his career.

“‘Bottom Line’ is a song about just getting through life.”

“You know,” he says, quoting the lyrics, “‘I got to stay on my toes, even if you’re friend or foe, it’s a do-si-do, around we go.’ This is like life.”

The video alternates scenes of life in gritty urban locales and spectacular night city shots full of lights and motion.

Jimmy is from Ohio, living now in Columbus. His partner, Big Change, producer and owner of the record label, Oxford Records, is also from Ohio, Cleveland. They are a team, Jimmy says.

“The music is the R&B format, and we’re out of Ohio, and this is the breeding ground for soul and R&B.”

The music pulls you in, guitar first, slow and easy, then bongos, punctuating the guitar and catching your attention. Then bass guitar sliding up and down the scale in a little funk turn that sucks you into the song.

When Jimmy’s smooth, mellow voice comes in, you’re ready to listen.

“I’ve been everywhere,” said Jimmy. “I’ve lived in Las Vegas. I’ve played guitars for a few reggae bands and R&B bands. I’ve been frontman for my own stuff, I’ve been to Europe. I’ve been quite a few places.”

Now 42, Jimmy “got my first guitar dollars when I was about 14, 15,” so, music has been his thing for a long time.

“I’ve been putting out records, but it’s just a different thing this time. I’ve got a partner. It’s much better, in terms of business. Artists, we want to be artists, but we don’t want to get ripped off. It takes a team to make a career.”

Jimmy has a voice and music like the R&B and soul artists of at the beginning of the golden era of R&B — Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Sam Cook, Otis Redding.

“They’re all influences, all of them, and my contemporaries, like Anthony Hamilton, Lyfe Jennings. Those guys are in my age group.”

“I consider myself a soul survivor. I started out playing guitar in church, and hearing the choirs and the quartets, and that is where Sam and all those guys came from. I’m of that lineage. Wholeheartedly.”

Big Change added Musiq Soulchild and Gil Scott to the list of influences, and Jimmy agreed.

“We’re all that,” he said. “I mean, this is where black singers come from.”

Big Change wrote “Bottom Line” and plays guitar on it, along with Jimmy.

“This song is literally life’s ballad,” said Big Change. “This is a hood ballad. It’s how life goes. The pace is of a love ballad, but it’s about life.”

“That’s a good interpretation,” said Jimmy.

“Everybody can relate,” said Big Change, “to having hard times in life and persevering.”

Jimmy and Big Change have about 20 songs ready. Some Jimmy wrote, some Big Change, and some they wrote together.

They don’t have a lot of music out yet. Their operating theory is put out a song, promote it and, when the song hits a saturation point, then release another.

“You know,” said Big Change, “we ain’t trying to be super megastars. We’re looking to get Jimmy out doing what he loves to do — performing. We’re just trying to open the door so our sound can become a part of the commercial entertainment world. We deserve it.”

Their sound deserves it, too, and hearing is believing. From a listener’s point of view, the only flaw in their plan is wanting more of their music.

Like, now.

Connect to Jimmy McGee on all platforms for new music, videos and social posts, and encourage them to put out more music, sooner rather than later.