At the forefront of Scotland's accordion and dance band scene for many years, Jim had a large and loyal following.

Inclined to compose and name tunes after the many friends and colleagues that he had had the pleasure of meeting throughout his musical career, he named others, such as 'The Well Wynd', after local places.

Jim's 'Inveresk March', 'The Banks of the Nith' and 'Fisherrow Polka' tunes were composed for the BBC programme 'On Tour', while his 'Pure Scotch Two-Step' ditty was commissioned by Radio Forth as a signature tune for its programme 'Pure Scotch'.

Another commission, the 'Thingummyjig Polka', was the signature tune for STV's popular series 'Thingummyjiig'.

Forefront

An inductee of Scottish Traditional Music's Hall of Fame, Jim's career stands as a landmark bridge between today's Scottish music and the dance-band heyday of the 1940s to the 1960s.

Jim was at the forefront of the accordion and dance band scene in Scotland for many years, and had a huge loyal following.

Born in Tranent, Jim grew up surrounded by accordion music. His father and three uncles were all noted players, regularly performing on radio before and after World War II.
Jim himself began taking lessons aged nine, initially with another local hero, Bobby Anderson — himself a former pupil of the revered Peter Leatham — and then with Leatham's daughter Chrissie, a guiding influence on Jim's playing throughout much of his career.

A rigorous technical grounding in the light-classical repertoire of Frosini and his peers was complemented by a diet of folk music at home, with Jim's exceptional talents gaining early recognition when he appeared on Children's Hour in 1950, aged 13.

Illustrious

Within a couple of years, he'd formed his first band, featuring his lifelong friend and colleague Bobby Colgan on drums, initially picking up the odd gig his dad wasn't able to play, but soon beginning to make a name in their own right.

After the interruption of National Service (a minimal hiatus, given the amount of time he spent playing for officers' dances), Jim worked with the family band for several years, afterwards briefly joining the illustrious outfit then led by Andrew Rankine – also featuring the likes of Billy Thom and Ron Gonella – before reconvening his own line-up in 1963.

In 1965 he joined the hallowed company of Jimmy Shand's band, accompanying Scotland's greatest ever accordionist on his historic tours of Australia and New Zealand.

This was followed by an 18-month stint playing alongside Jimmy Blue, after which he finally stepped up to centre-stage himself, as leader of the White Heather Club band, playing up to six nights a week in the touring version of the hugely popular BBC television series.

Recordings

During the 1970s, Jim frequently graced the small screen himself, as a regular guest on the long-running Songs of Scotland.

Pencaitland man Tom Steele, who had the privilege of working with the musician in his capacity as programme controller at Radio Forth, described the accordionist as a "lovely man."

He told the News: "Jim and his band made a number of live recordings at the station and he was always pleasant to be around. In a way he was bigger than Jimmy Shand and will be sorely missed."

Jim passed away peacefully at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, on Monday, August 4. He was father to George, Elaine, Audrey and Fraser.

A collection was taken after the well-attended funeral in aid of the Chest Heart and Stroke Association.