Plays guitar since he was 7 years old, initially with his father's dance bands. Studied trumpet and piano whilst playing Traditional music on guitar and mandolin. Later his growing interest in rock and blues led him to form his own band at school. The first Jimmy Smyth band was formed when he was in his early teens, and opened for Thin Lizzy, Bees Make Honey, Horslips, and Frankie Miller. He was a guitarist/singer with The Bogey Boys. He featured heavily in 'Best Guitarist' polls in Hot Press Magazine around this time, alongside guitarists like the Edge and Rory Gallagher.

He is a Grammy-Nominee for his work with US Artist Toni Childs. And twice performed live at the Grammy Awards.

He is currently Head of the Guitar Department at the prestigious British and Irish Modern Music Institute where he holds regular classes and workshops for their (Hons) Music Degree.

As a producer, he has worked with The Spirit of Eden, Bonnie Tyler, Toni Childs, Rob Strong, Chlöe Agnew and Frances Black.

Jimmy was later a guitarist with 'Moving Hearts' and the 'Davy Spillane Band' and is the featured guitarist on the new 'Heartbeat of Home' from the producers of the 'Riverdance' album, composed by Brian Byrne.

As a composer, he has written many songs and pieces as well as music for the movies When the Sky Falls (2000) and Silent Grace (2002) and for the Fellowship of The Ring (2003) videogame. He has also recorded/played with Roger Daltrey, Curtis Stigers, Chaka Khan, Lisa Stansfield, Albert Lee, Michel Legrand, Shaun Davey, Finbar Furey, Jimmy MacCarthy, Colm Wilkinson, Rita Connolly, Van Morrison Gilbert O'Sullivan and Reba McEntire. As a session musician, he has played on over a hundred albums by major artists in Ireland, the US and elsewhere. Jimmy has been Musical Director for RTÉ TV shows, and regularly performs with the the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, The Ulster Orchestra and many others.