Guitar Idol Big Jim Sullivan Dead at 71

10/03/2012
. In the 60s when it came to the top British session guitarists there was Little Jimmy Page and Big Jim Sullivan. Classic Rock reports the sad news that Sullivan has died at the age of 71:

Sullivan, real name James Tomkins, was a highly-accomplished musician who started his career in 1959 as a member of Marty Wilde's band.

He helped future Deep Purple icon Ritchie Blackmore learn to play guitar and also started Yes and Asia guitarist Steve Howe on his road to success. He recorded tracks for 55 number one hits, starting with Frankie Vaughn's Tower of Strength in 1960 and ending with Pilot's January in 1975.

In between times he worked with George Harrison, Frank Zappa, Alvin Stardust, the New Seekers, Thunderclap Newman, Angel, Love Affair, Long John Baldry, Marmalade, the Tremeloes, Jet Harris and and Tony Meehan plus many others.

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