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http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=08-Aug-2008&lang=es&s=61
http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=08-Aug-2008&lang=es&s=61
08-Aug-2008
by Rob Howard
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  Jim Johnstone, widely acknowledged as one of Scotland’s leading accordionists, passed away peacefully last week at the age of 71. He spent the last few years in a nursing home following a severe stroke that left him permanently disabled.Jim Johnstone was one of Scotland’s best-known dance bandleaders, and his long career bridged the post-war era of Jimmy Shand and Bobby MacLeod with the present day scene. Jim learned his trade by forming his own Scottish dance band when he was still a teenager. Later, after National Service in the army, he played with the bands of Andrew Rankine and Jimmy Shand. Playing with Rankine sharpened Jim up as this band, unlike most others, went into BBC broadcasts without rehearsals. “Rankine was good for me, though. I was thrown in at the deep end, but it made you work all the harder.” Jim’s period of playing with the great Jimmy Shand involved lots of gigs, tours, recordings and broadcasts. Jim recalled: “He was a man of incredible stamina. We did a tour of one-night stands in Australia, which exhausted me but not Jimmy. He thrived on it!” After Jimmy Shand, Jim played with Jimmy Blue. He then formed his own very successful band, which travelled on White Heather Club tours, resulting in Jim’s band becoming very well known around and beyond Scotland. Eventually, Jim wound down his touring, and became semi-professional. Over the years, however, his band made many high quality recordings, and these remain as a reminder of a very fine career spent presenting Scottish dance music at home and abroad. |