Top Jimmy

One of the more interesting cult rock figures of the '80s was blues-rock singer Top Jimmy. Although he earned accolades from such renowned outfits as X and Van Halen, Jimmy's popularity never spread outside of Los Angeles, making him something of a local legend. Born James Koncek during 1954 in Louisville, KY, Jimmy grew up in Southern California before eventually relocating to Hollywood to launch a music career. It was during the late '70s that Jimmy began to make a name for himself with his hot blues style, as he became aligned with the area's burgeoning punk scene (he'd been longtime friends with X guitarist Billy Zoom). Jimmy's popularity with punks also quickly grew when he would sneak free burritos to penniless musicians from his taco stand, Top Taco on La Brea. He also quickly developed a reputation for his hard-living lifestyle, which spilled over into his band, Top Jimmy & The Rhythm Pigs, who made it a point to drink as much as possible during performances. Despite the alcohol abuse, Jimmy was still able to build a sizeable regional following during the late '70s/early '80s, but unfortunately, he was never able to issue a recording during this era.

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