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British session guitarist, Big Jim Sullivan, died on Tuesday (October 2) aged 71.

If you haven’t heard of Sullivan, you will certainly be familiar with some of his work as his guitar is featured on more than 1,000 Top 20 hits, including 55 UK number ones.

‘Big Jim’ was born James George Tomkins on February 14, 1941 in Uxbridge, Middlesex. He took up guitar in his mid-teens and joined Marty Wilde’s backing band, the Wildcats, after coming to Wilde’s attention at London’s 2i’s coffee bar. As a member of the Wildcats, he also backed Gene Vincent on his 1960 tour of Britain.

Sullivan spent much of the 1960s as one of the most prolific session guitarists in Britain, playing on tracks from artists as varied as Frankie Vaughan, Billy Fury, Lulu, Frank Ifield, Dusty Springfield, the Tremeloes, the Small Faces, PJ Proby, and Tom Jones. He was also the resident guitarist at Top of the Pops and Ready Steady Go!.

The reason that Sullivan was in such high demand is that he earned a reputation as both a highly competent and innovative guitarist, helping to popularise the use of the fuzztone, wah-wah and talkbox guitar effects. If you hired Sullivan, there was a good chance he would bring something interesting to the recording.

At the end of the decade, Sullivan became a full-time member of Tom Jones’ backing band, accompanying him for gigs all around the world.

Sullivan left Jones’ band in 1974, set up a record company and moved to America. Over the next few years, he produced albums for various artists, including Olivia Newton John. He also worked as a member of the James Last Orchestra from 1978 to 1987. After this, he branched out into writing film scores and jingles, while continuing to gig with various collaborators.

In recent years, Sullivan’s music career was limited by diabetes and heart problems. He recently said:

Sullivan is survived by his wife Norma, who he paid tribute to several years ago with the composition “Blues for Norma”:

“Blues for Norma” – The Big Jim Sullivan Band

Here’s five classic tracks on which Sullivan’s guitar can be heard:

“Sea of Love” – Marty Wilde

“Crying Game” – Dave Berry

“Ferry Cross the Mersey” – Gerry and the Pacemakers

“Silence Is Golden” – The Tremeloes

“Itchycoo Park” – The Small Faces