Obituary – Jimmy Martin (b. 10/11/1928 - 29/11/2008)
by G.P.
B&F February 2009
Another Fife legend in the field of music has been lost with the death, at the age of 80, of Jimmy Martin of Kelty. The funeral service at Kirk of Beath, Cowdenbeath on December 3rd, was attended by many musicians and friends. Members of the Accordion Band, of which Jimmy was MD from the 1980s until his death, were present. As winners of the British Intermediate Championship in 1986 and British Advanced Championship in 1988 the band gave many promising musicians valuable experience. Among those who acknowledged the help on the arrangements side that the band had given them was Gordon Shand.
Another band member, Nicola Reid, a pupil of Charles Duncan of Dunfermline remembered her win in the Scottish Championships Classical Section as a bitter-sweet affair after her teacher’s untimely death in the week of her victory.
Concert programmes of the band give an indication of how Jimmy would marry classical with light music with jazz orientated pieces such as Intermezzo in Blue or Modern Arrangements for Accordion Band.
Perhaps the Fife Band’s most prestigious win was in an International Band Section at the British Championships in Scarborough, where the Fife Band came out winners over the favourites, a Hohner-sponsored band from Germany.
From an early age as an apprentice grocer with the Co-op in Kelty, it was evident the Jimmy Martin would go far as a musician. Half his weekly wages would go on lessons from a Professor of Music in Edinburgh who worked Jimmy hard on the theory side, gradually progressing into music arrangements as the years wore on. It was money well spent, for Jimmy developed into a professional musician of note.
In the era of the Big Bands such as Joe Loss, Squadronaires and Ted Heath, Jimmy joined The Maurice Winnock Band on keyboard and piano accordion. Thus was born his jazz orientated style with accordion breaks a la Jack Emblow. Indeed years later when Jack was guesting at Windygates A&F Club, it was always Jimmy who was invited to sit in and exchange licks with Jack. Traditional Scottish players were always amazed at Jimmy’s facility, often commenting to Jimmy, “I didn’t know you could play like that!”
As the Big Band era began to wane, Jimmy decided to extend his knowledge of music on the Continent beyond that of Big Band appearances at American forces’ bases in Germany. He embarked on a roving musical career which saw him joining local bands in Portugal, Spain and France which, thanks to the quality of his musicianship, enabled him to be confident enough as to have his wife Mary join him.
On returning to the UK Jimmy embraced the profession of music shop management at various locations in Scotland. At Bill Wilkie’s in Perth Jimmy was always busy behind the scenes at the Perth Festival as well as competing with The Fife Band, for entry to the British Championships was only afforded to those who had won a major championship in the own region. When it was decided to look around for an up-market range of accordions to import to the Perth shop an invitation was received from the Chinese manufacturers of the Parrot Accordion. This was at a time when very few westerners were allowed into the country. Jimmy was given the task of visiting the country to assess the quality of the manufacture and instruments. He was well treated by his hosts, even being taken to view The Great Wall of China but eventually the superior response of the reeds of the Italian Bugari firm won the day and has been a feature instrument of the Perth shop of Bill Wilkie.
While in France Jimmy met Tony Murena, one of the most prolific composers of French Musettes and they kept in touch musically for many years. It was perhaps a coincidence that as a floor player at Glenrothes A&F Club a few months ago I played one of Jimmy’s own compositions Mirafique (Published by MAP) introducing it as ‘the French musette’ all the way from Kelty.
As an accordion teacher Jimmy had great patience and a pleasant manner which enabled youngsters to blossom into good players. His secret of success at Festivals he attributed to dynamics and thorough preparation with a band of about a dozen players conducted by brass band competitive musicians such as Jim Greer, an ex-army bandmaster, or Bill Shaw, solo cornet player of Lochgelly Brass Band.
In his semi-pro work Jimmy would coach those enthusiasts who still favoured the Big Band Sound and played in Saxophonist George Keiller’s Quartet which favoured small jazz venues. It was at one of those venues where Jimmy was in a way rediscovered by Bob Stephenson, a broadcasting company MD who was appearing at The Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy, and invited to join in series of radio programmes entitled ‘The Late Show’.
Another broadcasting experience was with The Fife Accordion Band in a Shepherd’s Fancy spot in December 1986 where Jim managed to get Robbie Shepherd tongue-tied in the pronunciation of a Russian folk number Katuscha, eventually jokingly helping Robbie out.
This was typical of Jimmy, a great player, a great joker, a great man. The Fife Band continues under the leadership of two of its senior players, Robert Muir and Carol Corser.
Another band member, Nicola Reid, a pupil of Charles Duncan of Dunfermline remembered her win in the Scottish Championships Classical Section as a bitter-sweet affair after her teacher’s untimely death in the week of her victory.
Concert programmes of the band give an indication of how Jimmy would marry classical with light music with jazz orientated pieces such as Intermezzo in Blue or Modern Arrangements for Accordion Band.
Perhaps the Fife Band’s most prestigious win was in an International Band Section at the British Championships in Scarborough, where the Fife Band came out winners over the favourites, a Hohner-sponsored band from Germany.
From an early age as an apprentice grocer with the Co-op in Kelty, it was evident the Jimmy Martin would go far as a musician. Half his weekly wages would go on lessons from a Professor of Music in Edinburgh who worked Jimmy hard on the theory side, gradually progressing into music arrangements as the years wore on. It was money well spent, for Jimmy developed into a professional musician of note.
In the era of the Big Bands such as Joe Loss, Squadronaires and Ted Heath, Jimmy joined The Maurice Winnock Band on keyboard and piano accordion. Thus was born his jazz orientated style with accordion breaks a la Jack Emblow. Indeed years later when Jack was guesting at Windygates A&F Club, it was always Jimmy who was invited to sit in and exchange licks with Jack. Traditional Scottish players were always amazed at Jimmy’s facility, often commenting to Jimmy, “I didn’t know you could play like that!”
As the Big Band era began to wane, Jimmy decided to extend his knowledge of music on the Continent beyond that of Big Band appearances at American forces’ bases in Germany. He embarked on a roving musical career which saw him joining local bands in Portugal, Spain and France which, thanks to the quality of his musicianship, enabled him to be confident enough as to have his wife Mary join him.
On returning to the UK Jimmy embraced the profession of music shop management at various locations in Scotland. At Bill Wilkie’s in Perth Jimmy was always busy behind the scenes at the Perth Festival as well as competing with The Fife Band, for entry to the British Championships was only afforded to those who had won a major championship in the own region. When it was decided to look around for an up-market range of accordions to import to the Perth shop an invitation was received from the Chinese manufacturers of the Parrot Accordion. This was at a time when very few westerners were allowed into the country. Jimmy was given the task of visiting the country to assess the quality of the manufacture and instruments. He was well treated by his hosts, even being taken to view The Great Wall of China but eventually the superior response of the reeds of the Italian Bugari firm won the day and has been a feature instrument of the Perth shop of Bill Wilkie.
While in France Jimmy met Tony Murena, one of the most prolific composers of French Musettes and they kept in touch musically for many years. It was perhaps a coincidence that as a floor player at Glenrothes A&F Club a few months ago I played one of Jimmy’s own compositions Mirafique (Published by MAP) introducing it as ‘the French musette’ all the way from Kelty.
As an accordion teacher Jimmy had great patience and a pleasant manner which enabled youngsters to blossom into good players. His secret of success at Festivals he attributed to dynamics and thorough preparation with a band of about a dozen players conducted by brass band competitive musicians such as Jim Greer, an ex-army bandmaster, or Bill Shaw, solo cornet player of Lochgelly Brass Band.
In his semi-pro work Jimmy would coach those enthusiasts who still favoured the Big Band Sound and played in Saxophonist George Keiller’s Quartet which favoured small jazz venues. It was at one of those venues where Jimmy was in a way rediscovered by Bob Stephenson, a broadcasting company MD who was appearing at The Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy, and invited to join in series of radio programmes entitled ‘The Late Show’.
Another broadcasting experience was with The Fife Accordion Band in a Shepherd’s Fancy spot in December 1986 where Jim managed to get Robbie Shepherd tongue-tied in the pronunciation of a Russian folk number Katuscha, eventually jokingly helping Robbie out.
This was typical of Jimmy, a great player, a great joker, a great man. The Fife Band continues under the leadership of two of its senior players, Robert Muir and Carol Corser.