Jimmie Skinner was an influential American country and bluegrass musician, born on April 27, 1909, near Berea, Kentucky. He moved with his family to Hamilton, Ohio, in his teens, where he began his music career performing on local radio stations. Despite early setbacks with record labels, Skinner's songwriting talent shone through when Ernest Tubb recorded his composition "Let's Say Goodbye (Like We Said Hello)" in 1946.

Skinner's first recordings were released on Red Barn in 1947, and he later achieved his first chart hit with a cover of "Tennessee Border" in 1949. Known for his sparse instrumentation, often featuring electric mandolinist Ray Lunsford, Skinner's music influenced artists like Johnny Cash. His compositions, such as "Will You Be Satisfied That Way" and "Don't Give Your Heart to a Rambler," became country and bluegrass standards.

In the early 1950s, Skinner opened The Jimmie Skinner Music Center in Cincinnati, a mail-order and retail record store, and hosted a radio show. He recorded for major labels like Capitol, Decca, and Mercury, achieving significant success with hits like "I Found My Girl in the USA," "What Makes a Man Wander," and "Dark Hollow."

After the death of his manager Lou Epstein in 1963, Skinner's career waned, but he remained active on the bluegrass festival circuit and continued recording for smaller labels. He moved to Nashville in 1974, where he continued to write and perform until his death from a heart attack on October 28, 1979, in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Skinner's legacy was later recognized with a Distinguished Achievement Award from the IBMA in 2004.