By Mike Hyland

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 28, 2000) - A benefit concert to raise funds to assist with the medical expenses of former Sea Level guitarist Jimmy Nalls and his family will take place on Sunday, November 19th at the Exit/In in Nashville. Admission is $20 with all proceeds going to the Jimmy Nalls Recovery Fund. Nalls, a founding member of the Capricorn Records band Sea Level and a former member of the Nighthawks, was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1995. He will undergo surgery for the disease on November 1st at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The show will feature performances T. Graham Brown (whom Nalls worked with for several years), former Allman Brothers Band member Jack Pearson and William Howse, Mike Henderson & The Bluebloods, Gary Nicholson, Lee Roy Parnell and several special guests. The music will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Jimmy Nalls released his first-ever solo album "Ain't No Stranger" on Nashville-based MRL Records in August, 1999. The album has since been nominated for Blues Album Of The Year by both the Nashville Music Awards and the Music City Blues Society. Jack Pearson, Lee Roy Parnell, T. Graham Brown and Mike Henderson all contributed to the album, as did former touring mates Chuck Leavell and Charlie Hayward.

Since the early 1970's Nalls played guitar in bands fronted by Alex Taylor and Dr. John. He also played on records by Gregg Allman, Bonnie Bramlett, Percy Sledge, Bobby Whitlock and others. In 1976 he was a founding member of Sea Level, a spin-off of the Allman Brothers Band which also featured Chuck Leavell, Jai Johanny Johanson and Lamar Williams. Sea Level recorded five albums, four for Capricorn and one for Arista before dissolving in 1981.

After a short stint touring with country singers B.J. Thomas and Charley McClain, Nalls moved to Nashville in 1986. Two years later he joined the legendary blues band The Nighthawks as lead guitarist along with former Wet Willie front-man Jimmy Hall. The band toured constantly including Japan and Europe as well as all throughout the States. Opting for more of a home life, Nalls quit the Nighthawks and accepted a more normal touring life working with country-soul singer T. Graham Brown. For four years, Nalls played guitar behind Brown's soulful country songs, recording with Brown on the album "You Can't Take It With You."

In the fall of 1995 Nalls learned that he was suffering from Parkinson's disease. "At first I didn't tell anybody about the Parkinson's," he admits. "It was such a shock to me and my family. I wasn't sure what was going to happen or how the disease would progress."

Moving at his own pace, Nalls turned down various opportunities to tour. He did work on the Blues Co-Op album "Muddy Water Fever" in 1997 and also produced and played on Rick Moore & Mr. Lucky's first album "Slow Burnin' Fire" in 1998. Both projects are on the MRL label. Work on his own album project began in late 1998 and proved to be strenuous at times. The pressure to deliver an album by a certain date did not exist, but the pressure to deliver a quality album did. Nalls and co-producer Phil Dillon worked at a pace that was comfortable, not frantic.

A special bank account has been established to accept contributions from Jimmy Nalls' many friends and fans. Contributions can be sent to The Jimmy Nalls Recovery Fund, P.O. Box 41793, Nashville, Tennessee 37204. Additionally, auction items at the show on November 19th include a Fender guitar, autographed CD's (including Sea Level releases) and other related merchandise.