Jimmy Russell was born in Washington, DC and placed in a Foster Home all his life under the Godly guidance of Edward and Virginia Russell. He was raise in the Bible Way Church of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ where the late Smallwood E. Williams was Pastor. Jimmy learned many musical points of ministry and singing through many in his life such as Dr. Pearl Williams-Jones, Min Raymond A. Brown, Min Steward Hunter, Bishop Roland Joyner and so many other at Bible Way but also in the Gospel Music world like Richard Smallwood, Mrs Shirley Berkeley, Min. Donald Vails, Rev. James Cleveland, Min. Thomas Whitefield and so many others.

In 1995 the Lord spoke to Jimmy as he was walking the shorelines in Miami to start a new group that would do a new thang in singing ministry..............After much prayer the name was given BECAUSE OF CHRIST we are ............ Jimmy Russell and BOC have performed at many events to include Union Temple’s Annual Unifest, The National Council of Negro Women, Inc., Black Family Reunion (NBC4 Stage), The GMWA Convention, The Thomas Dorsey Convention. ** They’ve been blessed to share the stage with Gospel Artists such as Richard Smallwood, Vanessa Williams, Daryl Coley, John P. Kee, Vicky Winans, DC Chapter of GMWA, Angela Spivey, Steven Hurd, Lisa McClendon, Izzy, John Tillery & Living Sacrifice, JJ Hairston and Youthfull Praise, Isaiah Thomas and EOP, Ziel, Kendall King and many others. ** Also, they have sung back up for Vanessa Renee Williams as well as Dorothy "Peach Cobbler" Norword just to name a few. All of these experiences are evident in the group, Jimmy Russell and Because of Christ; which consists of singers and musicians from various churches and denominations; all believing that Jesus is Lord. With emphasis on vision and purpose, the group has had the opportunity to minister at various churches and venues throughout Washington-Maryland Metropolitan Area and beyond. Their style and versatility has afforded them the ability to minister at a potpourri of events, ranging from church banquets & services to outdoor festivals, community fundraisers, conventions Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.