James Prime

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Born in Kilmarnock (East Ayrshire, Scotland), James(Jim)Prime is most known as the keyboard player for rock band Deacon Blue, which was named after a Steely Dan song of the 1970's. He also lectures at the University for the West of Scotland.Well known as a Hammond/ piano player his talents have been sought after by John Martyn, Johnny Hallyday, Phil Cunningham, Eddi Reader, Little Richard and many others.

[edit] Altered Images

Jim's career began properly as a session musician on an Altered Images tour of the U.S.A in 1980. Altered Images, famous for their singer Claire Grogan's voice on such hits as 'Happy Birthday' (no 1, U.K hit), 'I could be Happy', 'See those Eyes' and latterly a smash U.S top ten with ' Don't talk to me about love' finished a successful tour by splitting up. A disillusioned Claire wanted to continue her acting success on Gregory's Girl by pursuing a role on the next Bill Forsyth film named Comfort and Joy. Manager Gerry McElhone and brother Johnny McElhone were ahead of the game, forming and signing (in a week) the band Hipsway. Jim considered joining but made way for his erstwhile competitor Craig Armstrong.

[edit] In Deacon Blue

The band was formed in Glasgow in 1985 by Ricky Ross (b.1957) and comprised Prime, Graeme Kelling (1957 - 2004) on guitar, vocalist Lorraine McIntosh (b.1964), bass guitarist Ewan Vernal (b.1964) and Dougie Vipond (b.1966) on drums.

Their debut album Raintown (1987) was well-received and followed by others such as When The World Knows Your Name (1989) and Whatever You Say, Say Nothing (1993), with a succession of chart-topping hits including Dignity and Real Gone Kid, which made the top-ten in the UK. The band grew to be one of Scotland's best-known acts of the 1980s, but split in 1994. They reformed to produce further albums; namely Walking Back Home (1999) and Homesick (2001).

[edit] After Deacon Blue

Following the band's split Jim had a lengthy hiatus from music and experienced a period of ill health. Following this Jim accepted a lecturing position on the newly formed Commercial Music degree programme at the University of Paisley (now the University of the West of Scotland). Jim's tenure as a lecturer has not been without it's difficulties and a number of relationships with both students and fellow staff have become strained (as testified by the historically high levels of vandalism found on this page). Nonetheless Jim was recently made Head of Commercial Music and regularly works alongside Davie Scott (of the Scottish Band The Pearlfishers), Mick Slaven (who has toured with Deacon Blue), Alan Dumbreck, Paul McGeechan (of Glasgow Band Love and Money) amongst others.

In recent years Deacon Blue have reformed for live appearances and new recordings.