James P. "Jimmy" Newquist is the primary song writer, guitarist, and lead singer for the alternative rock band Caroline´s Spine. Born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, he is one of eight children. He started song writing at an early age, and moved to Los Angeles, California to further his music career.

In 1993 he formed Caroline´s Spine with college friend Mark Haugh. The band´s name being a reference to a character in a story Newquist wrote, about a comatose girl whose doctor nonchalantly inquires, "How´s Caroline´s Spine today?"