Jimmy Torres was born in 1939 in Paint Rock, Texas, the seventh son in a large family. His heritage is Kickapoo, Choctaw, Spanish, German, Mayan, and Irish. His father was an accomplished violinist who played numerous other instruments as well and his mother was musical also. The children were all taught to sing and read music at the early age of five. When they mastered this, they were allowed to chose an instrument to play. Jimmy chose the alto horn as his instrument, which his father taught him. He also learned to play guitar "because it was always there." Later, he chose to play the French Horn and distinguished himself at an early age playing classical music. His goal was to play in the New York Philharmonic. He was invited to do so when he was 14, but his father did not allow him to go as he was "too young."

The family moved to Plainview,TX and he played French Horn in the high school band. Shortly after moving to Plainview, Torres was approached by Keith McCormack to play in his band, the Patio Kids. Keith had heard that Jimmy played guitar. Torres' first response was that he didn't want to play in a rock 'n roll band--he was a classical musician. Eventually, he was persuaded to "audition" for the rock band and was immediately accepted to play lead guitar in the band which was renamed the Rock 'n Rollers. The band included Keith McCormack on guitar, Aubrey DeCordova on bass, Charles J. Edmiston, the drummer, and Torres as lead guitar. Shortly after Torres signed on, however, the original lead guitarist, Richard Stephens, decided to come back to the band--so they had two lead guitars.

Torres' decision to be a rock musician was cemented when the group played at a high school assembly and the girls stood up and screamed. He decided to "keep the guitar strap around [his] neck." The Lean Teens were eventually renamed the "String-A-Longs" by Norman Petty.

Plainview, TX was a very interesting place to live in those days. Jimmy lived just around the corner from Waylon Jennings and they used to sit in the car in front of the house and smoke cigarettes together. He met Buddy Holly in Lubbock. Buddy lived close to Jimmy's brother Ruben's house and his brother, J.R., helped Buddy nail the egg cartons to the walls in his garage to deaden the sound so the neighbors wouldn't complain.

Jimmy Torres was the lead guitar player in The String-A-Longs in the early 1960s. The String-A-Longs was one of the rock 'n' roll groups managed by Norman Petty in the early days of rock 'n' roll. Their unique instrumental style, Torres' Fender Jazzmaster guitar played through a Magnatone amp and Torres' original songwriting produced several huge hits, including "Wheels", "Mina Bird", and "Twist Watch".

The original group toured and performed extensively with such groups as the Everly Brothers, Marty Robbins, Roy Orbison, Rex Allen, Sr., Del Shannon, The Shirrels and many others. Torres co-wrote the hit song, "Sugar Shack" with Keith McCormack while he was staying at Keith's Aunt Fay's house. Torres gave his rights in "Sugar Shack" to Aunt Fay as a birthday present.

The String-A-Longs broke up in 1964. After that, Torres moved to Canada and continued to perform and compose. His son was born in Canada. He eventually returned to Texas and reunited with Keith McCormack and his own brothers as the Strings-of-Fortune. McCormack eventually left to join the Fireballs and Torres and his brothers and later others performed as the Jimmy Torres Trio.

Jimmy married and settled in Marion County, Arkansas. He toured and played music, but between tours he raised cattle and farmed. After 14 years the marriage fell apart and shortly thereafter, Torres was severely injured in an automobile wreck in Arkansas. While recovering from the severe injuries he sustained in the wreck, Torres composed and eventually put together a country album of his original songs. This album, which he eventually named UNCOMMON MAN, was not released because between production and release, Torres was assaulted, gravely injured and left for dead in Amarillo, TX. After another lengthy recovery, Torres left Texas to become a hermit in the high desert of Central Oregon.

He continued to compose, but did not perform in public for years. In 1997, Nokie Edwards of the Ventures persuaded Torres to emerge briefly from his hermitage to do two joint benefit concerts in Eugene, Oregon. But Torres remained a hermit.

With new inspiration in his life, Torres is currently releasing UNCOMMON MAN, the country album of Torres' original songs on his own label, Evaristo Records. This album was produced in Branson, Missouri by the late Bob Millsap. While continuing to compose, he is reestablishing a band and re-emerging into public life. He is also putting together a new CD of original tunes that need to be played, heard, and danced to.

Jimmy now lives in Bend, Oregon where he loves to cook, ride bicycles, and garden. He also loves to walk-about, hike, camp and generally enjoy the out-of-doors. He is refurbishing a sailboat and an ancient VW camping van. His love of sailing goes back to his Texas days when he and his senator friend piloted their 62 foot yacht on blue-water trips. For Jimmy, there is nothing more beautiful and inspirational than unfurling his sail and keeping watch in the crystal clear wee hours before dawn. He loves the ocean, the forest, the desert and all of nature in between. He also loves to eat, which has provided him the motivation to become an accomplished chef. He prides himself in the original recipes that he "conjures up."