Downtown Fort Myers musician Jimmi Melton dies, leaving lasting impact

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—A downtown Fort Myers staple is being remembered after Jimmi Melton, a homeless musician known for playing on the same set of steps for years, died Saturday. 

The steps in front of the old First Bank building, once filled with music, now sit silent. For years, that sound belonged to Melton.

WINK News first met him back in 2013.

"I've gotten to play a lot of good music for a whole lot of people," Melton said.

Community members are remembering him and the impact he made in downtown through his music.

"He started playing on these steps probably 10 or 15 years ago, and he would come in, and he just became part of the scenery," said Rick Wienesett, an attorney.

But he was never just background noise.

"He was so kind, and he was always happy no matter what his circumstances were," said Lissette Dominguez, a Fort Myers resident.

It's right here on these steps where Melton spent years not just playing music, but building connections. People say it didn't matter if you knew him or not—if you walked by, you felt like you did.

He was a daily reminder to be kind to others.

"You'd find him sitting in the chair every day. Just always said, good morning, hello, hi to strangers, to anybody he ever saw," said Tricia Davis, owner of Scoops on First.

Now, those moments are memories.

"We'll miss seeing him here. We already miss him, already," said Diane Knauss, a Fort Myers resident.

"He was just a light, and you know, I'm gonna miss him," Dominguez said.

"I was sad, because he's a part of us, you know, because he's been here so long," Wienesett said.

While these steps may sit quietly, the community says the kindness and music Melton shared here will continue to echo through downtown Fort Myers.