Jimmy Hall was born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in Mobile by a musical family steeped in gospel tradition. Hall first gained notoriety as the lead vocalist, saxophonist, and harmonica player for the band Wet Willie, which emerged from Mobile, Alabama in 1970. His unique brand of R&B-infused rock and roll swagger propelled the group’s “Keep On Smilin’” to the Top 10 on the Billboard singles chart in 1974.