A photographic portrait of James Edward "Jimmy" Loughlin (1896-1976).
Loughlin was an accomplished pianist who played in venues throughout Aberdeen during the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
He was born in the Pendleton district of Salford. Electoral registers indicate he moved to Aberdeen in around 1934.
It is understood Loughlin came to Aberdeen to take up the role of resident pianist at His Majesty's Theatre. He often played at the Rosemount Viaduct venue.
As a soloist or band member, he also performed at the Music Hall, in cinemas, at social events and on the radio. He played both popular music of the day and classical piano.
Loughlin regularly worked with bandleader and violinist Harry Lambert Wilson (1906-1996). He played with the Lambert Wilson Ensemble at Aberdeen Art Gallery and was broadcast on the radio in 1935 as part of Lambert's quintet.
Newspaper notices indicate a James Loughlin Trio was active in the early 1940s.
Loughlin's performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 at the Music Hall was particularly well received. An article in the Press & Journal reviewing the concert stated "[...] with his performance, Mr Loughlin at last comes into his own in Aberdeen. His playing was not only workmanlike, but quietly brilliant and over and over again finely articulate. The subtleties, too, were there." (P&J, 01/07/1946, p. 4).
Loughlin was married twice. His first wife, Iris Gough (1899-1931) died tragically young. They had married in Manchester in 1923, prior to Loughlin's time in Aberdeen.
He married Barbara Fowlie (1904-1984) in Aberdeen in 1935. James and Barbara retired to Arbroath in the 1970s. Both are buried in the town's Western Cemetery.
Loughlin came from a musical family. His relatives include George Loughlin (1914-1984), a pianist and composer, and Joseph Loughlin, a violinist. A descendent called Michael Loughlin is a violinist and conductor of a chamber choir in Darwin, Australia.
A digital copy of this photograph, and five others findable on this website, were donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Loughlin's granddaughter.
