Jimmy Nutt grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. He learned to play drums and guitar at age 12 and soon after began playing in a band with his best friend, James LeBlanc. After graduating from high school, Jimmy moved to Texas (first Dallas, then Austin) to continue his musical journey. He played regularly at clubs in both Dallas and Austin.

In July of 2000, Jimmy, along with his wife and son, moved to Muscle Shoals after several visits to the area. Jimmy became a recording engineer at FAME Studios and signed a publishing deal as a songwriter with House of Fame Publishing. In March of 2006, Jimmy launched The NuttHouse Recording Studio, a state-of-the-art studio in downtown Sheffield. In 2012, Jimmy created Musicnutt Publishing, LLC.

He has worked with a wide range of recording artists including Percy Sledge, Clarence Carter, Jimmy Buffett, Mac McAnally, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, John Paul White, Donna Jean Godchaux, Lenny LeBlanc, Heartland, Russell Smith, Drive-By Truckers, The Decoys (Scott Boyer, David Hood, Kelvin Holly, N.C. Thurman and Mike Dillon), Spooner Oldham and Donnie Fritts.

Jimmy is a member of the Muscle Shoals Music Association and teaches recording at the University of North Alabama as an adjunct professor.