Tootsie’s & Palomino Legend Jimmy Snyder Has Died
Country singer, songwriter, guitarist, and long-time performer Jimmy Snyder has died, according to close friends. A fixture of the historic Palomino Club in North Hollywood where he led the club’s house band called The Palomino Riders throughout the 70’s, he later relocated to Nashville and became a regular club performer, playing in Printer’s Alley, and later a legendary residency at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, helping to mentor artists such as Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, Tara Thompson, and others early in their careers. He passed away on Wednesday, December 9th.
Born in 1934 in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, James “Jimmy” Snyder grew up in Wheeling, West Virginia, and started performing at the age of seventeen, primarily in the bluegrass realm. He appeared on the famous Wheeling Jamboree, and helped form a bluegrass band with well-known fiddler Toby Stroud called called Toby Stroud and The Blue Mountain Boys. After pausing his career to serve in the military, Snyder relocated to Southern California, and began playing in the Gene Davis Band at the Palomino Club. Soon Snyder began making a name for himself in the local country music scene, and became a fixture of the Palomino.
Throughout his career, Jimmy Snyder was singed to various record labels including Toppa Records, K-Ark Records, Wayside Records, and others, finding his greatest success with the song “The Chicago Story.” He collaborated at times with artists such as Willie Nelson on the song “I’m Still Not Over You,” Merle Haggard on the song “Haggard State of Mind,” played with Elvis Presley who once joked Snyder could sing “Memories” better than he could, and Leon Russell was once in Jimmy’s band as an up-and-coming piano player.
But where Jimmy Snyder’s most lasting contribution was as a fixture in local clubs, playing classic country standards and originals, and often giving up-and-comers some of their first opportunities on legendary stages in both California and Nashville. He could play most any country song shouted at him from the crowd.
“We had a banter like no one else,” said singer and songwriter Tara Thompson at his passing. “He was my person for so long. People would laugh when I would tell them that my best friend was an 85 year old man, but it was true. He was one of the most talented, stubborn, hilarious, confident, inappropriate (he loved embarrassing me lol) legend of a man … Gosh, I loved that man. We played on that tootsies stage more times than I can count, we fought like cats and dogs, and we loved each other.”
Long time guitarist David Langley said, “RIP my good friend Jimmy Snyder. He gave me my first playing job at Tootsies years ago when I moved to Nashville. The Human Juke Box. I don’t think there was a real country song he didn’t know. You’ll truly be missed. You already are.”
Singer and songwriter Lane Brody remembered, “When I first got to LA and went to the Palomino Club to sit in, where many artists got their start and honed stage chops, he generously let me share his stage. He let me use his guitar and HE WAS ALWAYS A KIND CARING GENTLEMAN. He gave so much to an industry that never totally appreciated how gifted he was.”
Though not as well-known as Charley Pride who passed away the next day and somewhat overshadowed his death, Jimmy Snyder had a major impact on the careers of many artists in two epicenters of country music, and will be missed.
A Go Fund Me has been set up to help pay for Jimmy Snyder’s final expenses.
December 13, 2020 @ 8:07 pm
RIP. Tootsies was a must visit whenever we were in Nashville. Jimmy played mostly daytime then. I never saw a set where he didn’t have one or more aspiring artist sit in for a while. He loved to entertain. I once heard someone say, “not him again.” Jerk. It’s been a three years since I’ve been in Nashville. It’s less than 5 hours away. Something always came up. 2021 for sure, God willing and the proverbial creek don’t rise.
December 14, 2020 @ 5:47 am
Thirty-six hours after Charley Pride. SMH. Since I already suggested to mourn those that are dying I figure I should offer some dark levity: Someone really needs to do a parody of Jim Carroll Bands “People Who Died” about musicians that died this year because it’s reminding me of that song
December 14, 2020 @ 6:38 am
2020 needs to just GTFO-
December 14, 2020 @ 8:08 am
Salt of the earth. Nothing cool happens without guys like Jimmy Snyder keeping the lights on. RIP.
December 14, 2020 @ 1:04 pm
Saw him many times at Tootsie’s and he always put on a great show. Afternoons at the bar with a beer and Jimmy on the stage are great memories. .
December 14, 2020 @ 3:43 pm
Admittedly I had no idea who he was but seems like a big loss. RIP
Not saying he wasn’t appreciated by enough people because not everyone wants fame, but I wish we paid more attention to people like this while they were still around.
December 14, 2020 @ 5:47 pm
Great article, Trig
I was not familiar with this Nashville mainstay
December 15, 2020 @ 5:09 am
Jimmy being a human jukebox was right. Omg I met him 15 years ago, 7 years passed and he still remembered me. We actually argued on music, who originally wrote or performed what. Man he could hold his own, BTW we were always play arguing, he loved that shit. Im gonna miss my friend. RIP Jimmy, and BTW Jimmy, I was still one up on ya lol!
December 15, 2020 @ 10:55 am
RIP Jimmy Synder ! One of the nicest gentleman I have ever met. He’s already missed. He was definitely one of a kind.
December 15, 2020 @ 7:29 pm
I met Jimmy Snyder in the eighties late eighties we were both playing in printers Alley in Nashville. I was performing at Boots Randolph’s in printers Alley and Jimmy was across the alley at the Western room and that’s where we met. We became music friends. He was always known to me as playing at the Palomino club in LA. I was kind of like where did you come from?? He was great guy and he will be missed I enjoyed his friendship. RIP Jimmy.
December 20, 2020 @ 2:48 pm
Jimmy Snyder is my Dad and I will really miss him believe me RIPDad Bill Snyder love you Dad !
December 23, 2020 @ 6:27 am
Jimmy Snyder was my cousin. He will be sorely missed. Rest In Peace in God’s heavenly kingdom Jimmy.
January 20, 2021 @ 8:08 am
Jimmy was my best buddy. We went everywhere together when I lived with Charlie Hodge in North Hollywood. He would ask me to pick out his hair when he would play at the Palomino club. That is how his afro got so big. Whenever he would see me he would say ‘Hey you little son of a bitch you, what the fk you think you’re doin’ .’ I loved him dearly. Rest in Peace my best buddy Jimmy.
January 23, 2021 @ 12:16 am
I’m lost for words, while doing some research for my book commings soon and trying to see what Jimmy was up to I seen the news. I meet Jimmy in the late 80’s he was my manager in my modeling career. Jimmy was a awsome person. He didn’t sugar coat nothing he said what he had to say. R.I.P Jimmy see you on the other side.
May 3, 2021 @ 9:18 pm
I first listened to Jimmy when he was singing at Skull’s Rainbow Room on Printers Alley. I still have a CD of his music that has been on my I-phone for several years. Great singer and entertaining. Sorry that I just discovered his passing. RIP good buddy.
August 20, 2021 @ 7:45 pm
I moved to Nashville in 2001. I went into Tootsie’s the first day I got there and met Jimmy. He got me up on stage the first time we met. He had a extra room at his house and offered to rent it to me. I lived with him for 2 years. What a guy, he worked with me on my guitar playing and new songs. He was one of the most helpful, and nicest guys you will ever meet. I will miss the story’s He told about his old days and the people he played with. RIP good buddy you are greatly missed.
September 11, 2021 @ 1:59 pm
Knew Jimmy many years and was a fixture at Tootsies for most of them, be interesting to know how many tourist busloads of people he entertained and kept amused from all over the world! We had in friends in common he’d ask me if I had talked to every time I saw him! Miss ya Brother..
January 14, 2022 @ 4:56 pm
Met Jimmy in the early 70’s at Lloyd Hickey’s 40 GRAND Club in Sacramento… He truly was a one of a kind guy…
March 24, 2022 @ 9:58 am
Well, Jimmy, looks like all of the magic really is gone. Rest in peace, my friend, until the great awakening.
Nancy S.
November 25, 2022 @ 5:50 pm
I had the honor to play with Jimmy’s band at the Oak Grove Club in Redding, CA for a few weeks in the winter of 1978(?). I was young and new to country music. It was the first time I experienced country music at that level. I ran into Jimmy on Broadway in Nashville in around 1997. He said well hi Jim. How ya been doin. Class act all the way.
December 13, 2022 @ 10:25 am
I used to participate in the Talent Contest every week for 28 years, at the Palomino Club (I never won squat) and knew Jimmy Snider when he was a member of the House band. The last time I saw him he gave me his back stage pass to see John Denver at the Hollywood Bowl. The other day I found that pass with John Denver’s autograph on it. Jimmy was a hell of a nice guy!