James H. Mathis Jr. (born August 1967), known as Jimbo Mathus, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and member of the hot jazz band Squirrel Nut Zippers.

He also helped found Johnny Vomit & The Dry Heaves, which was one of the first punk rock/experimental noise bands in the state of Mississippi.

In 1987, Mathus joined the Merchant Marines working as a deckhand and tankerman for the Canal Barge Company on the Mississippi, Illinois and Tennessee Rivers.

[citation needed] Educating himself in the libraries of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Mathus learned Latin, studied theater, poetry, First Peoples culture, literature and medieval alchemy, as well as music.

This group used Mathus' knowledge of theater, early American music and leadership along with Whalen's fashion and vocal style.

The group toured throughout the 1990s, appearing at A Prairie Home Companion, the second inauguration of Bill Clinton, and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

[citation needed] In 2010, Mathus wrote and produced a historical musical revue entitled Mosquitoville, and led the 11-person cast in performances for communities across the state of Mississippi.

[citation needed] Mathus and his band, The Tri-State Coalition, released their album Confederate Buddha on Memphis International Records in May 2011.

Mathus released a six-song solo vinyl EP entitled Blue Light in July 2012 on Big Legal Mess Records.

They toured the UK again in 2016[11] In 2015 Mathus released Blue Healer, which he described as "pretty hard hitting" southern rock with elements of psychedelia.

Mathus attributes the harder sound partly to his new drummer, Bronson Tew, as well as lead guitar appearances from Eric Ambel.