As a teenager in the late 1960s and early '70s, Jeff and Tom Petty were part of the same local rock scene in Gainesville, Florida. By 1974, both musicians had relocated to Los Angeles and Petty invited Jeff to play guitar on the sessions for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1976). Unfortunately, Jeff's contributions went uncredited on the album sleeve. Jeff's motorcycle jacket is also worn by Petty on the cover. By early 1978, Jourard was working with Martha Davis on the Motels' debut album. The resulting Motels includes a pair of tracks co-written by him, including the second single, “Total Control,” which Tina Turner covered in 1982. Jeff’s younger brother, Marty Jourard, also joined the Motels at this time and is back in the band’s current lineup. Jeff joined the Hollywood Stars in 2023.