About Jimmy Roach

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Jimmy Roach started his career writing songs in his native New York. His first songwriter’s contract was for “The Kitty Cat Song.” It was recorded by Lee Dorsey and shot up the charts as the A/B side of “Ride Your Pony,” and was later covered by British Rock Band, The Troggs of “Wild Thing” fame. He also wrote " I MISS YOU" for The O’Jays, "I WISH I COULD SLEEP" for The Manhattans, and charted with Brenda & The Tabulations on "YOU'RE SO RIGHT FOR ME". When Jimmy started writing with Pam Sawyer, a Motown staff writer, they struck gold with “My Whole World Ended,” David Ruffins’ first solo single after leaving the Temptations. Based on that top-ten hit, he was signed to Motown by HANK COSBY, as a Producer, Arranger, and Songwriter and moved to Detroit. As an arranger, he worked on The Four Tops’ “Still Waters Run Deep” album, receiving a Gold Record for arranging the single. Jimmy arranged songs on The Tops “Changing Times,” single and album, including “That’s The way Nature Planned It.” Jimmy arranged songs on the first Eddie Kendrick’s solo album including “Can I.” Jimmy produced, arranged, and wrote most of the songs for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ Christmas album, “A Season For Miracles” (“Our Best Christmas”) and worked with The Supremes, Jimmy Ruffin, Martha Reeves, Chuck Jackson, Syreeta and Kiki Dee among others.
After Motown, Jimmy remained in Detroit producing, arranging, and writing for, among others, The Dramatics, who charted with “AND I PANICKED, which was covered by JOHNNY TAYLOR, Junie from The Ohio Players,” The Dells, who Charted with “LEARNING TO LOVE YOU WAS EASY” Jimmy Ruffin, and The Spinners both of whom he took to Atlantic  records. The Spinners hit gold and Jimmy’s work can be found on their albums, “MIGHTY LOVE,” “THE CHROME COLLECTION,” and “BEST OF VOL.II”  Jimmy wrote, “Casanova Brown” a number-one disco hit for Gloria Gaynor, “Disco Sax” charted for Jazzman Houston Person. James & Bobby Purify SCORED A TOP FIVE R&B SINGLE with “You & Me Together Forever.” That song was also recorded by Esther Phillips, Freddie North, Jimmy Ruffin and O.C SMITH among others.
In 1989, Jimmy established, The Accessories Boutique, In Detroit. a music and sportswear retail store. The Accessories Boutique soon became a “key store” in the Detroit market and a Sound Scan Reporter. In addition, Jimmy Roach, was elected President of the Detroit Music Retailers Association, an association including other stores such as Shantiniques, Puffer Reds’ and Simpsons’. Jimmy and Accessories Boutique were also selected to become part of the Impact Retail Dream Team—an organization made up of key stores around the country (Georges’ Music Room, Dedry Jones’ Music Experience) brought together to consult with the magazine and annual convention. In 2002, Jimmy sold the Accessories Boutique to Shantinique to return to his first love, creating music and planning the reactivation of his Jibaro Label.
One of the first projects upon returning to the creative scene was creating music for the HBO documentary, “Wide Awake.” As a producer, arranger, and songwriter, Jimmy has worked across all genres including scoring for film. He scored the music for the film, “DELIVER US FROM EVIL” which featured the group ENCHANTMENT.
Now in Atlanta, Jimmy continues to produce, arrange, and write in his studio. In 2011, he charted worldwide with Gil Scott Heron’s “We’re New Here” single, from his last album before passing.
In 2015 Jimmy received The Willie Dixon Life Time Achievement Award from The Jus Blues Foundation    Jimmy is always looking to work with great new and unsigned artists.
In June of 2019 SONGWRITER, ARRANGER, PRODUCER
JIMMY ROACH was inducted into the RHYTHM & BLUES HALL OF FAME