Jimmy Hart’s Claims Proudest Achievement

“The Mouth of the South” has had a long and illustrious career in both music and professional wrestling. He talked to SB Nation about the piece of music he’s most proud of: Shawn Michaels’ entrance music.

Before embarking on a career as a pro wrestling manager in Memphis, WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy “Mouth of the South” Hart had a top-five hit as a member of The Gentrys. Even after getting into pro wrestling full-time, Hart never gave up music. He penned quite a number of well-known wrestling entrance themes, including iconic tunes for the Honky Tonk Man, Jimmy Snuka, the Rockers, the Mountie and Dusty Rhodes’ “American Dream” theme.

That much is true. Since the debut of “Sexy Boy” in Feb. 1992 (sung by Sherri Martel early on, then most famously by Michaels himself and a must-listen demo with 80s saxophone, sung by none other than Vince McMahon), Michaels has only ever departed from using the theme during his occasional runs in D-Generation X. That’s a full 20-plus years of Michaels insisting he’s not your boy toy. The track was co-written by Hart, WWE music guru Jim Johnston and J.J. Maguire.

“[Michaels] told me a story,” Hart continued his tale. “When he took time off [in 1998] and then came back [in 2002], [WWE asked him], ‘Hey, do you want to change your music and do heavier?’ And he said, ‘No. I came in with this song and I want to go out with it.’ So that was an honor for us. It’s still one of the most played songs around. It just lasted ever since [Shawn started his singles career].”

Hart said the song came easily to him and Maguire, because they’re lucky enough to be around the wrestlers and get a feel for their personalities and mannerisms before writing the themes. For example, when they penned the nWo Wolfpac theme for Hall and Nash, it was about being cool and allowing them to have swagger on the way to the ring. “With ‘Sexy Boy,’ it was more ‘He thinks he’s cute, he thinks he’s sexy … ‘ It just fit his character that much more.”

Does he think the track played a big role in Michaels becoming a wrestling icon? “Well, I’d like to think so,” says Hart, laughing. “But his work in the ring, him being cool and cocky and [having] great interviews … When he got in the ring, he entertained the people so much. His look, his persona … that’s what really did it. But hopefully the song helped a little bit.”

Listen to ‘Sexy Boy’

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