American jazz guitarist Jimmy Ponder was born in Pittsburgh on May 10, 1946. Inspired by Thornel Schwartz, Wes Montgomery, and Pat Martino, he became an adept instrumentalist during his teenage years, eventually landing a job in Charles Earland's band within six months of graduating high school. His career flourished during the 1970s and beyond, with Ponder serving not only as a sideman for artists like Richard Groove Holmes and Jimmy McGriff, but also as an acclaimed bandleader. While My Guitar Gently Weeps, his first release as a solo act, arrived in 1974, followed by more than 20 solo albums and nearly 100 appearances as a sideman. Somebody's Child peaked at Number 3 on the JazzWeek airplay chart in 2007, giving the 61 year-old Ponder the highest charting placement of his acclaimed career. Several years later, he passed away in his hometown of Pittsburgh on September 16, 2013.
