Jimmy Hart

James Ray Hart (born January 1, 1944) is an American professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician.

He is currently signed to WWE in a Legends deal.

He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and used the nickname "The Mouth of the South" (one that was also given to Ted Turner).

Regarded by many to be one of the greatest managers in professional wrestling history, Hart has managed the likes of Andy Kaufman, The Honky Tonk Man, Bret Hart (no relation) and Jim Neidhart (The Hart Foundation), Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, Jerry "The King" Lawler, "The Million Dollar Man" Dibiase">Ted Dibiase, Irwin R. Schyster, The Mountie, The Natural Disasters, Dino Bravo, the Nasty Boys, The Giant, and Hulk Hogan.

Before becoming involved with professional wrestling, Hart was a member of rock band The Gentrys, best known for their 1965 top five Billboard Hot 100 hit, "Keep on Dancing".

Jimmy Hart was born in Jackson, Mississippi.

He was brought into wrestling by Jerry "The King" Lawler, who knew of Hart because both had attended Memphis Treadwell High School.

Having been asked to sing back-up with Lawler, Hart later became Lawler's manager.

After splitting from Lawler, Hart created a stable known as the First Family of Wrestling to attack Lawler, which among others included Hulk Hogan, King Kong Bundy, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, "Leaping" Lanny Poffo, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Ox Baker, Kamala, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert, The Iron Sheik and Kevin Sullivan.

He was briefly the AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion in 1981.

In 1981 through 1984, Hart led Austin Idol, Masao Ito, and Gilbert to NWA/AWA International titles.

In 1982, Hart earned national headlines doing a program with comedian and television star Andy Kaufman.

Hart, Lawler and Kaufman would continue this feud for over a year.

Around this time, Hart became known as "The Wimp", a nickname given to him by Lawler and chanted by fans, and was the subject of the song "Wimpbusters," which was sung by Lawler to the tune of "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr..; a music video was also made featuring Lawler, announcer Lance Russell, and wrestlers such as Randy Savage, Jimmy Valiant, Dutch Mantel, Tommy Rich, and Rufus R. Jones, along with footage of Lawler beating Hart and his "First Family".

In 1985, Hart's friend Hillbilly Jim recommended him to WWF owner Vince McMahon, who hired him.

He was nicknamed "The Mouth of the South" due to his loose-lipped style, often augmented by his trademark megaphone, which he used to instruct and encourage his protégés, to discourage and annoy opponents and announcers (especially Gorilla Monsoon) and also as a weapon.

Hart's first acquisition in the WWF was Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, then the Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion, whom Hart managed at WrestleMania.

After Valentine lost the Intercontinental Heavyweight Title to Tito Santana, Hart briefly co-managed the Dream Team (Valentine and Beefcake), until he was phased out and gave full control to "Luscious Johnny" Valiant.

At WrestleMania, Hart also managed King Kong Bundy as he defeated S.D. Jones.

Hart later traded Bundy's contract to Bobby "The Brain" Heenan for The Missing Link and Adrian Adonis.

He helped the latter to establish his "Adorable Adrian" gimmick.

Hart also managed Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart.

1985 also marked the appearance of the legendary Bret "Hitman" Hart.

Jimmy Hart teamed him up with Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart to form the Hart Foundation.

In 1985, Hart took the Funk Family under his wing.

The Funks included Terry and Hoss Funk, as well as their kayfabe brother Jimmy Jack Funk.

Hart wrestled on house shows with the Funks.

On July 12, 1986, Hart won a battle royal to receive $50,000 at Madison Square Garden.

When The Honky Tonk Man turned heel, Hart became his manager.

In this position, Hart was nicknamed "The Colonel" in a reference to Colonel Tom Parker, the manager of Elvis Presley.

On January 26, 1987, Hart guided the Hart Foundation to the WWF World Tag Team Title, which they won from the British Bulldogs.

Disgraced-referee-turned-wrestler Danny Davis also was managed by Jimmy Hart.

With Hart in his corner, The Honky Tonk Man captured the Intercontinental Heavyweight Title from Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat on June 2, 1987, and held it until August 1988.

During that time, The Honky Tonk Man feuded with Randy Savage and his manager Miss Elizabeth.

"The Colonel" moniker stuck with him for years, even after The Honky Tonk Man departed the company in early 1991.

At WrestleMania III, Hart was involved in three matches and took some incredible bumps during the show.

His first appearance was with "Adorable" Adrian Adonis who fought Rowdy Roddy Piper.

Then came the six-man tag match, pitting the Hart Foundation and Danny Davis against the Bulldogs and Tito Santana.

Jimmy Hart's third appearance on the show was when The Honky Tonk Man fought Jake "The Snake" Roberts who had rock legend Alice Cooper in his corner.

Following that match, Hart was left alone in the ring where Roberts and Cooper teamed up to terrorise him with Roberts' pet snake Damien.