Born in Morrisania, Bronx, New York City, in 1946, Jerry Jemmott began playing upright (acoustic) bass at the age of eleven after he discovered Paul Chambers.

King, Freddie King, Chuck Berry, Otis Rush, Champion Jack Dupree, and Mike Bloomfield, and accompanied Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Erroll Garner, Les McCann, Eddie Harris, Houston Person, George Benson, Archie Shepp, Lionel Hampton, Herbie Mann, Eddie Palmieri, and Charles Earland.

In 1971 King Curtis recorded his Rhythm & Blues hit, "Live at Filmore West" with Jerry Jemmott, Bernard Purdie, Billy Preston, and other members of the Kingpins.

Later he formed Jerry Jemmott's The Right Reverend Jakie Neckbone Jubilee Special,[3] and performed a mix of his original "cool groove" songs with his classic hits, in addition to presenting his "Soul Kitchen" improvisation workshops and clinics.

That band members were singers Tina Fabrique, Connie Fredericks - Malone, Frankie Paris, Angel Rissoff, Catherine Russell, and Stan Wright.

During this period he was also a member of the Jimmy Owens Quartet, who made several trips to Europe, The Middle East and Africa for the U.S State Department, along with Dizzy Gillespie, the Heath Brothers, and Sonny Fortune .

King ° Live and Well (ABC Records, 1968) With Herbie Mann With Laura Nyro With Houston Person With Shirley Scott With The Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Orchestra