BENTLEYS' BLOG
44
Big Jim Sullivan - Big Talent - Big Heart ...
Big Jim Sullivan one of the greatest guitar legends on the planet is sadly no longer a
living legend.
His contribution to British Popular music is Unbelievable - Incredible - Unrivalled.
So Many Happy Memories...
I am proud to say that Jim was a mate of mine, and we played a lot of gigs together ... I remember sitting with him backstage at a gig listening to a radio show featuring Hits of the Sixties - as each record came on he'd say "I'm on this one too" This went on for about 10 straight records and then we had to go on stage!!
Jim did not and could not catalogue every single session he worked on - he told me that quite often he would play guitar on the backing track in the studio without ever having met the artist. The artist would come into the studio later to record their vocal after Jim had left. So there are many hit recordings that he played on that he had just simply forgotten about!!
His encounters on all these countless sessions with all these sixties legends provided Jim with endless stories - some were hilarious - but the ones l liked the best were shocking and unrepeatable.
Lucky Me ...
It was an inspiration to be able to play music with Jim.
I was lucky enough to play on several studio recordings with him, and accompany him on the bass at gigs in the UK and abroad.
Just being able to sit with him and watch his amazing technique on the guitar was a unique opportunity for me to learn and be inspired by a real virtuoso.
Outa Sight ...
Jim was one of - if not THE best sight readers on the Planet. His talent for being able to play a piece of music straight from the page, without ever having heard it before, was legendary among other session players. And after playing it as written, he could then improvise the piece in any style imaginable.
Give it up for Jim! ...
I would watch eyes pop and jaws drop in the audience as Jim launched into one of his dazzling solos.
Jim is also responsible for ending many a musicians career - as quite a few guitarists who watched him play - then decided to give it up!
Unlucky Jim ...
The Performing Rights Society collect money for musicians who play on successful recordings. But this system did not cover the period when Jim played on over a thousand charting entries and over 50 No.1 singles. If these payments had been around in the sixties Jim would have been, without a doubt, the highest paid member of PRS. It was very unlucky and unfair for Jim - but lucky for the PRS as they would've gone bust to pay him his dues!
Top That!? ...
Jim was blessed with an astonishing musical gift, and it gave him the means to enjoy a wealth of exciting and amazing life experiences.
Judging from what he told me - l guess that jamming with Elvis was up there with the greatest! WoW!
Thanks Norma ...
for looking after Jim all these years ...
so sad to see him go ...
JB
check out Jim's Discography here ... it's unbelievable!!
http://www.angelfire.com/rock3/rock-of-ages0/
His contribution to British Popular music is Unbelievable - Incredible - Unrivalled.
So Many Happy Memories...
I am proud to say that Jim was a mate of mine, and we played a lot of gigs together ... I remember sitting with him backstage at a gig listening to a radio show featuring Hits of the Sixties - as each record came on he'd say "I'm on this one too" This went on for about 10 straight records and then we had to go on stage!!
Jim did not and could not catalogue every single session he worked on - he told me that quite often he would play guitar on the backing track in the studio without ever having met the artist. The artist would come into the studio later to record their vocal after Jim had left. So there are many hit recordings that he played on that he had just simply forgotten about!!
His encounters on all these countless sessions with all these sixties legends provided Jim with endless stories - some were hilarious - but the ones l liked the best were shocking and unrepeatable.
Lucky Me ...
It was an inspiration to be able to play music with Jim.
I was lucky enough to play on several studio recordings with him, and accompany him on the bass at gigs in the UK and abroad.
Just being able to sit with him and watch his amazing technique on the guitar was a unique opportunity for me to learn and be inspired by a real virtuoso.
Outa Sight ...
Jim was one of - if not THE best sight readers on the Planet. His talent for being able to play a piece of music straight from the page, without ever having heard it before, was legendary among other session players. And after playing it as written, he could then improvise the piece in any style imaginable.
Give it up for Jim! ...
I would watch eyes pop and jaws drop in the audience as Jim launched into one of his dazzling solos.
Jim is also responsible for ending many a musicians career - as quite a few guitarists who watched him play - then decided to give it up!
Unlucky Jim ...
The Performing Rights Society collect money for musicians who play on successful recordings. But this system did not cover the period when Jim played on over a thousand charting entries and over 50 No.1 singles. If these payments had been around in the sixties Jim would have been, without a doubt, the highest paid member of PRS. It was very unlucky and unfair for Jim - but lucky for the PRS as they would've gone bust to pay him his dues!
Top That!? ...
Jim was blessed with an astonishing musical gift, and it gave him the means to enjoy a wealth of exciting and amazing life experiences.
Judging from what he told me - l guess that jamming with Elvis was up there with the greatest! WoW!
Thanks Norma ...
for looking after Jim all these years ...
so sad to see him go ...
JB
check out Jim's Discography here ... it's unbelievable!!
http://www.angelfire.com/rock3/rock-of-ages0/
www.johnbentley.tv