Jul 20 2020 80 mins 6
Jimmy Smith is the Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Amusement Park, the branded content, marketing, and entertainment agency he founded in 2011. Over a nearly four decade career starting in 1985 at Burrell Communications, Jimmy has worked alongside legends like Dan Wieden, David Lubars and Lee Clow. During his time at Wieden, his creations for Nike include "Book of Dimes" starring Lebron James and Bernie Mac; the hip-hop basketball classic, "Nike Freestyle"; and the transformation of Vince Carter into “Dr. Funk.” He also wrote a documentary entitled "Battlegrounds" for Nike, which went on to be the highest rated show in the history of MTV 2. In addition to winning all the big marketing awards like Cannes and One Show, Jimmy’s work has been recognized by the Smithsonian, and won Time Magazine’s “Ad of the Year.” As Group Creative Director on Gatorade, he received an Emmy Nomination for Gatorade Replay. He's also credited with helping develop the storyline and characters for the video game NBA Street. Heʼs written two books, including the 1997 release "Soul of the Game", which was featured at the Chicago Field Museum, The Basketball Hall of Fame, and the International Center of Photography in New York City. In 2016, his newly formed record label Amusement Park music debuted its first single “Bigger Than Us,” featuring Portland Trailblazers point guard Damian Lillard aka Dame Dolla. He has been named to Fast Company’s Creative 100. He is not only an industry icon, but a powerful voice in the fight for racial equality in advertising.
