Jim Diesel Pepe, former Reagan Youth lead singer, fronts The Tonics in their residency gig at The Famous Door on New Orleans' world famous Bourbon Street. He is co-creator, music director & frontman of All Tomorrow's Parties: A Lou Reed Retrospective, debuting June 2016 at Bardot in Miami.
Jim fronted Reagan Youth during 2011-12, including their 16 show West Coast tour & concurrently recorded a slate of new original material with 2x Grammy winner Mark Bryan of Hootie & The Blowfish as well as Symphony X bassist Mike LePond & drummer Johnny Dee of DORO.
Previously, Jim released original EP Jim Pepe & Red Planet and LP From Soul To Crown, earning 3 stars from AllMusic.com & toured the Northeast, opening for Dave Davies (Kinks), Levon Helm & Bobby Bandiera.
A son of late sportswriter Phil Pepe, Jim is from NJ, earned Bachelors & Masters degrees from U. of South Carolina where he played football & is an ex-William Morris talent agent & entertainment marketing/communications executive.
Jim "Diesel" Pepe
Jim "Diesel" Pepe currently fronts South Florida rock cover band Split Image. He is also the co-creator, music director and lead singer/rhythm guitarist of All Tomorrow's Parties: A Lou Reed Retrospective, which debuted June 2016 in Miami's Wynwood Art & Design district.
Previously, Jim served as lead singer of hardcore punk/metal/pop band Reagan Youth in 2011-12, debuting as frontman for their 16-show West Coast tour in 2011.
Jim recorded new original material in 2012 with 2x Grammy award-winning guitarist Mark Bryan of Hootie & The Blowfish in Awandaw, SC, and in Philadelphia with heralded Symphony X bassist Mike LePond, drummer Johnny Dee of DORO and guitarist extraordinare Abe Ruiz. The material awaits release.
As a songwriter, Jim received recognition for Rhapsody as a category semi-finalist in the 2006 Dallas Songwriter contest and 1st runner up honors for Silhouette from American Songwriter magazine in their national lyric contest.
In 2002, Jim released an original EP (Jim Pepe & Red Planet) and LP (From Soul To Crown), both supported by steady live performances in the Northeast, including opening slots for Bobby Bandiera (at The Stone Pony), and rock legends Dave Davies and Levon Helm. From Soul To Crown earned 3-stars from AllMusic.com.
The son of late sportswriter Phil Pepe, Jim was raised in northern New Jersey and now lives in Miami Beach, FL.