Big Jim Sullivan

James George Tomkins (14 February 1941 – 2 October 2012), known professionally as Big Jim Sullivan, was an English guitarist.

Best known as a session guitarist, he was one of the most in-demand studio musicians in the UK in the 1960s and 1970s, and performed on around 750 charting singles over his career, including 54 UK number one hits.

Early life and career James George Tomkins was born in Hillingdon Hospital, Middlesex, England, and went to Woodfield Secondary School in Cranford, Middlesex. At the age of 14, he began learning the guitar, and within two years had turned professional. When he was young he played with Sid Gilbert and the Clay County Boys, a Western swing group, Johnny Duncan's Blue Grass Boys, Vince Taylor & the Playboys, Janice Peters & the Playboys, and the Vince Eager Band. Sullivan gave guitar lessons to near-neighbour Ritchie Blackmore. who were the opening act in the television series, Oh Boy!, produced by Jack Good. The Wildcats backed Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent on their tour of Britain in 1960,

Session musician

Jack Good introduced Sullivan to studio work. Sullivan became one of the most sought-after guitarists throughout the 1960s and the 1970s, in part because of his flexibility in playing different styles of music. He was often referred to as "Big Jim" both for his physical appearance and as he was usually first choice to play guitar on sessions for major musicians and bands. Another session musician at the time, and at some of the same sessions, Jimmy Page, was referred to as "Little Jim".

Sullivan played on around 750 UK chart entries, and averaged three recording sessions a day. He played on the first records in the UK to use a wah-wah effect – Michael Cox's 1961 "Sweet Little Sixteen" and Dave Berry's 1964 hit "The Crying Game" used a DeArmond Tone and Volume pedal. He played on the first record in the UK to use a fuzzbox, which he had borrowed from session guitarist Eric Ford, on P.J. Proby's 1964 hit "Hold Me".

In the early 1960s he also played on hits by The Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull, Billy Fury, Frank Ifield, Adam Faith, Frankie Vaughan, Helen Shapiro, Johnny Hallyday, Freddie and the Dreamers, Cilla Black, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, and others.

In 1968, Sullivan played on George Harrison's Wonderwall. He directed and played on Amazing Blondel's first album in 1969, and in the same year played on the album Sound of Sunforest, the overture from which was used in the film A Clockwork Orange. In 1971, he played in the Jean-Claude Vannier Orchestra for Serge Gainsbourg's Histoire de Melody Nelson, and also played on Frank Zappa's 200 Motels. In 1972, he performed additional arrangements of the orchestral version of The Who's Tommy arranged by Wil Malone for London Symphony Orchestra and English Chamber Choir.

Sitar In the 1960s, Sullivan learned to play the sitar, Sullivan released an album of Indian-style recordings under his own name, Sitar Beat (1967),

He played sitar on a musical interpretation of the Kama Sutra. Sullivan was among a group of English guitarists who adopted the sitar, including George Harrison of the Beatles, whose Esher home Sullivan regularly visited to practice on the instrument. Throughout this period, Sullivan studied formally with Nazir Jairazbhoy and, until 1969, he all but abandoned guitar in favour of the sitar.

Moving from being a session musician

In 1969, Sullivan joined Tom Jones' band.

In 1978, he became part of the James Last Orchestra for nine years, also touring with Olivia Newton-John after her success with Grease. In 1987, he began composing music for films and jingles.

Sullivan later formed a duo with songwriter Duncan McKenzie. They played together for many years and recorded an album, Aquila.

In 2003 until his death Sullivan toured with Doug Pruden as the BJS Duo. (recording Hayley's Eyes CD & Guitar Maestros DVD).

Death Sullivan died on 2 October 2012, aged 71 due to complications from heart disease and diabetes. 1969 – Big Jim Sullivan – Lord Sitar (Columbia) 1973 – Big Jim Sullivan – Sullivan Plays O'Sullivan (MAM) 1974 – Big Jim Sullivan – Big Jim's Back (Retreat) 1975 – Tiger – Tiger (Warner Bros.) 1976 – Tiger – Goin' Down Laughing (EMI) 1977/1983 – Big Jim Sullivan Band – Test of Time 1992 – Jim Sullivan – Forbidden Zones – Guitar Tutoring 1994 – Big Jim Sullivan's Tiger – Test of Time 1998 – Big Jim Sullivan – Big Jim's Back/Tiger 2001 – Big Jim Sullivan – Mr Rock Guitar (aka Ultimate Rock Guitar and other titles) 2003 – BJS Duo – Hayley's Eyes with Doug Pruden 2004 – The Big Jim Sullivan Trio – Jazz Cafe 2005 – The Big Jim Sullivan Band – Live at Coolham 2006 – Big Jim Sullivan – Guitar Maestros with Doug Pruden

Notable recordings

Sullivan's guitar work appears on the following songs:-

1959 Marty Wilde – "Bad Boy" 1961 KrewKats – "Trambone" "Samovar" "Peak Hour" "Jack's Good" "The Bat" 1961 Michael Cox – "Sweet Little Sixteen" 1962 John Barry – "James Bond Theme" (Vic Flick played lead guitar but Sullivan played on the record and devised the walking-step introduction) 1962 Tony Hatch – "Out of This World" 1963 Bern Elliott and the Fenmen – "Money (That's What I Want)" 1964 P.J. Proby – "Hold Me" and "Together" 1964 Dave Berry – "The Crying Game" 1964 Freddie and the Dreamers – "I Love You Baby" 1964 Simon Scott – "Move It Baby" 1964 Françoise Hardy – "Je n'attends plus personne" 1965 Gerry & The Pacemakers – "Ferry Cross the Mersey" 1965 Eddy Mitchell – "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" with Jimmy Page 1966 Joe Loss – "A Shot in the Dark" (Henry Mancini cover) 1967 Clinton Ford – "El Paso" 1967 The Truth – "Walk Away Renee" 1968 Donovan – "Catch the Wind" and "Colours" (Donovan's Greatest Hits versions) 1968 Johnny Hallyday – "A Tout Casser" 1968 Anita Harris – "Dream A Little Dream of Me" 1971 Serge Gainsbourg - Histoire de Melody Nelson 1971 Cliff Richard – "Silvery Rain" 1972 Julie Felix – "Clotho's Web" 1972 Gilbert O'Sullivan – "Alone Again (Naturally)" 1972 Tom Jones – "The Young New Mexican Puppeteer" 1974 Alvin Stardust – "Jealous Mind" and "Guitar Star" 1977 The Walker Brothers – "Shutout" and "The Electrician" (from their album Nite Flights)

Number one singles

1961 Petula Clark – "Sailor" 1961 Eden Kane – "Well I Ask You" 1961 Danny Williams – "Moon River" 1961 Frankie Vaughan – "Tower of Strength" 1962 Mike Sarne – "Come Outside" 1962 Frank Ifield – "I Remember You" 1962 Frank Ifield – "Lovesick Blues" 1963 Frank Ifield – "Wayward Wind" 1963 Frank Ifield – "Confessin'" 1964 The Bachelors – "Diane" 1964 Cilla Black – "Anyone Who Had a Heart" 1964 Peter & Gordon – "A World Without Love" 1964 The Four Pennies – "Juliet" 1964 Cilla Black – "You're My World" 1964 Georgie Fame – "Yeh Yeh" 1965 The Seekers – "I'll Never Find Another You" 1965 Tom Jones – "It's Not Unusual" (not the main guitar) 1965 Jackie Trent – "Where Are You Now (My Love)" 1965 Sandie Shaw – "Long Live Love" 1965 The Walker Brothers – "Make It Easy on Yourself" 1965 Ken Dodd – "Tears" 1965 The Seekers – "The Carnival Is Over" 1966 The Overlanders – "Michelle" 1966 The Walker Brothers – "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" 1966 Dusty Springfield – "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" 1966 Chris Farlowe – "Out of Time" 1966 Tom Jones – "Green, Green Grass of Home" 1967 Engelbert Humperdinck – "Release Me" 1967 Sandie Shaw – "Puppet on a String" 1967 Engelbert Humperdinck – "The Last Waltz" 1967 Long John Baldry – "Let The Heartaches Begin" 1968 Esther and Abi Ofarim – "Cinderella Rockafella" 1968 Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich – "The Legend of Xanadu" 1968 Des O'Connor – "I Pretend" 1968 The Scaffold – "Lily The Pink" 1968 Marmalade – "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" 1969 Thunderclap Newman – "Something in the Air" 1969 Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg – "Je t'aime... moi non-plus" 1969 Rolf Harris – "Two Little Boys" 1970 Dana – "All Kinds of Everything" 1971 Middle of the Road – "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" 1971 Benny Hill – "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)" 1971 New Seekers – "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" 1972 Gilbert O'Sullivan – "Clair" 1973 Gilbert O'Sullivan – "Get Down" 1973 Peters and Lee – "Welcome Home" 1973 New Seekers – "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" 1974 Alvin Stardust – "Jealous Mind" 1975 Pilot – "January"