About
Kimble Funchess is a versatile veteran trumpeter. He has performed with some of the nation’s greatest artists in Jazz, Gospel, Blues, and R&B. Some of the most noted artists are: B. B. King, The O’Jays, Wilson Pickett, Charlie Pride, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Johnny Taylor, The Fifth Dimensions, Paul Overstreet, Mavis Staples, Charlie Pride, Brandy, Dorothy Moore, Lionel Hampton’s Big Band, David “Fathead” Newman, Willie Clayton, Eddie Cotton, Bobby Rush, Mavis Staples, Nanette Workman, Hubert Sumlin, Pine Top Perkins, rap artist David Banner, and the Spinners. He performed as part of the orchestra for the 1st Mississippi Grammy Event that honored Mississippians who have won Grammy awards such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Paul Overstreet, Marty Stuart, Brandy, Charlie Pride and Robert Johnson. Kimble has also performed with many of our local churches, including Anderson United Methodist Church, Christ United Methodist Church, Broadmoor Baptist Church and Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church. He is a founding member of Anderson United Methodist Church Instrumental Ensemble “Gospazz”. Presently, He serves as a member of the orchestra at Pearl St. African Methodist Episcopal Church. Kimble’s enthusiasm for music led to a professional career in music as a performing artist, and music educator.
Kimble has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Education. His wide-ranging career led him to positions as Director of Bands; at McComb High School, McComb, MS, Yazoo City High School, Yazoo City, MS, Peeples Middle School, Jackson, MS and Yazoo County Schools Director of Bands, YazooCounty, MS.
He has been featured on many recordings such as Barbara Carr/International Records, BC-100; Lee Fields, Robert Tillman, Willie Clayton, Ronnie Lovejoy, Frank-O Johnson/Ace Records; Denise LaSalle, Dorothy Moore and Poo-Nanny/Malaco Records; Vicki Baker/So Fly Records; Willie Clayton/Gamma/Ichiban Records; The Williams Brothers/Blackberry (Malaco) Records, Keith “Wonder-Boy” Johnson/Verity Records and Grammy Award winning Producer/Arranger Benjamin Wright (The Benjamin Wright Orchestra). He has also recorded with The Jackson Southernaires and Pastor Tim Rogers and the Fellas CD. The gospel single, "Happy with Jesus" has been featured on Video Gospel on BET. Most recently, Kimble made his movie debut with a musicians’ role in the Dixieland Band for the newly released James Brown movie “Get On Up!” He will also have a cameo appearance in the upcoming movie “Same Kind of Different As Me.” As a member of The Jackson Horns, Kimble has arranged and recorded horns for three International Blues Challenge (IBC) winners: Grady Champion “Bootleg Whiskey”, Castro “Mr. Sipp” Coleman “The Mississippi Blues Child” and Eddie Cotton “One At A Time”.
It is truly a blessing to have the opportunity to live a life through music after growing up in Crystal Springs, MS which is the same county that the great Robert Johnson was born! Kimble is very appreciative of the wealth of opportunities that have been afforded him thus far and is excited about continuing to grow in God’s Grace.
Music