1979
Sir Jimmy Shand MBE
(1908 - 2000)
It goes without saying that the Association’s first recipient was the legend himself, Sir Jimmy Shand. Jimmy, the sixth of nine children, was born in the Fife mining town of East Wemyss. His big break came when he was introduced to Charles S. Forbes of Dundee who offered him a job as a demonstrator and sales rep. This in turn led to his first recording contracts and allowed him to deal directly with Hohner to design the first Hohner Special, later the Shand Morino. Jimmy joined the Fire Service during the war years and his band gradually developed. Instead of another solo radio performance, Jimmy persuaded producer Howard Lockhart to allow his “wee combination” to broadcast for the first time on New Year’s Day 1945 in Scottish Half Hour from Glasgow. Jimmy made his first foreign tour to Canada in September 1955 and then to Australia and New Zealand in April 1961. He was awarded the MBE in 1962 and became Sir Jimmy Shand in the New Year Honours List 1998.
Sir Jimmy Shand MBE
(1908 - 2000)
It goes without saying that the Association’s first recipient was the legend himself, Sir Jimmy Shand. Jimmy, the sixth of nine children, was born in the Fife mining town of East Wemyss. His big break came when he was introduced to Charles S. Forbes of Dundee who offered him a job as a demonstrator and sales rep. This in turn led to his first recording contracts and allowed him to deal directly with Hohner to design the first Hohner Special, later the Shand Morino. Jimmy joined the Fire Service during the war years and his band gradually developed. Instead of another solo radio performance, Jimmy persuaded producer Howard Lockhart to allow his “wee combination” to broadcast for the first time on New Year’s Day 1945 in Scottish Half Hour from Glasgow. Jimmy made his first foreign tour to Canada in September 1955 and then to Australia and New Zealand in April 1961. He was awarded the MBE in 1962 and became Sir Jimmy Shand in the New Year Honours List 1998.