Skinny Hightower was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas by both of his parents. After constantly hearing Hightower bang on random objects within the house, his father allowed Hightower to sit on his lap and play the drums at the age of two years old. Within a few years, Hightower had picked up the ability to play drums proficiently and began playing in church at the age of eight. Henceforth, he studied piano under the instruction of his mother and picked up bass at the age of 12 after watching his uncle play guitar. In middle school, Hightower downloaded a free production software and began making drum patterns. At that point in time, Hightower had surrounded himself with music, listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, The Temptations, Diana Ross, and gospel sensations Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Commissioned, along with many others. During summer breaks, he would practice eight to ten hours a day between drums, bass, and piano.

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In 2012, Hightower joined the Army and served for five years. During his tenure in the military, he was deployed to Afghanistan. Three months into the deployment, he got word of his mother’s passing. The loss of his mother took an enormous toll on him causing him to exit the military under honorable conditions. But in the end, his mother’s death only strengthened his desire to pursue music. Upon returning from Afghanistan, Hightower self-produced his first album Cloud Nine in dedication to his mother. A year later, he was signed to Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm Records, releasing his label debut Emotions. He now releases his third effort RETROSPECT, what he hopes will be a highlight in his music career as he navigates the trail of becoming a smooth jazz great.