Jim Waugh, writer, broadcaster, jazz expert; born October 26, 1941, died December 25, 1995
JIM WAUGH, who died suddenly on Christmas morning at the age of 54, would have appreciated the irony of sharing his date of death with the late Dean Martin, with whom he also shared a love of music, wine and the good things of life.
Born in Glasgow in 1941, son of William and Helen Waugh, he was brought up and educated in the South Side of the city where his father worked as an electrical engineer for the city council.
Waugh's early career was in civil engineering, a fact which surprised many who knew him later in life, more so as he was responsible for a number of very large civil engineering projects both in the UK and in the Middle East. Although his prospects as an engineer were good, he became disaffected and his lifelong passion for art, literature and music (indicated in his co-founding of Platform Jazz in the sixties) drew him in other directions.
As a mature student Waugh undertook a joint honours degree at Glasgow University in art, history, and English literature, graduating in the mid-70s. Thereafter his talents as a journalist and broadcaster came to the fore and he worked for The Herald, The Scotsman Colour Magazine, the late Sunday Standard and the Sunday Times. He also made a substantial mark as a jazz broadcaster.
At Radio Clyde, working with the handle ``Nighthawk'', his immense knowledge of the international jazz scene, its personalities and the complexity and diversity of its music gave the West of Scotland over a decade of inspired, amusing and highly informed late-night broadcasting.
Waugh's interviews with luminaries from both the international music scene and from cinema were conducted with deft expertise, humility and his characteristic gentle good humour. This invariably put interviewees at their ease and drew out a great deal more insight than could have been obtained by a more aggressive style.
His success as an interviewer arose from the simple fact that, particularly where the greats of jazz were concerned, he was an ardent fan. Talking to Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie and countless others was a great personal achievement. When Frank Zappa gave him a frame from his movie off the cutting-room floor Waugh was genuinely the recipient of a priceless treasure.
In 1990 Waugh took up a post as senior press officer for Glasgow's year as European City of Culture. Under immense pressure he once again applied his communication skills to ensuring that Glasgow's status in Europe and beyond was greatly enhanced. More importantly, he was concerned that local people be kept informed and involved in the celebrations.
After the hiatus of 1990, Waugh focused once again upon his jazz broadcasting and also assumed the role of impresario, becoming variously, jazz DJ for Q96 FM and a co-founder of Basement Jazz. The latter introduced and encouraged new talent in Glasgow and welcomed many other musicians to the city. In 1992 he was appointed lecturer in media and communication studies at Falkirk College and in the years which followed, his professional expertise in radio, his knowledge of European media and his natural didactic bent inspired his
Waugh's other passions, for the city of Glasgow and the good things of life, also flourished over this period. He was involved in the campaign to save the Salon cinema and to create a new visitor attraction in Bellahouston Park, centred upon the reinterpretation of Tait's Tower.
His compering of the Dunoon Jazz Festival (1994 and 1995) and fronting of the Fruitmarket at the Glasgow International Jazz Festival (1995) seemed to pressage another new career for this remarkable, immensely talented, but always self-effacing charming man. These were perhaps the most public of his many projects and aspirations, all of which demonstrated his love for Glasgow and his enthusiasm for its fabric, its culture and its people.
NEIL BAXTER
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