Johnny Nicholson (McGlynn)

Educated at Edinburgh’s Royal High School where he began drumming in the pipe band. Began local jazz career playing drms with ‘Bill Salmond’s Louisiana Ragtime Band’ in 1969 at Lothian Bar, Lothian Road. Soon playing variety of gigs at dances, clubs, hotels etc and continued his jazz playing with ‘Charlie McNair’s JB’, ‘Ken Ramage’s JB’ and, in a more modern setting, with sax player Gordon Cruikshank. Also in trio with Jimmy Hendrie and Ronnie Rae in Dragonara Hotel at the Belford Bridge. Futher gigs with ‘Old Bailey’s Jazz Advocates/Scottish Jazz Advocates’ and ‘Society Syncopators’ including trips in 1983/84 to Sacramento Jazz Festival with Advocates, depping for Chick Murray. Many gigs at EIJFs in 1980s playing with Benny Waters, Red Rodney, George Chisholm, Teddy Wilson and others. Also work in C&W, rock, pop and radio commercials. Embarked on an acting career in 1975, changing his name to McGlynn for professional purposes, and appeared in TVs Taggert, Soldier Soldier, Slient Witness and All Creatures Great and Small, leaving Edinburgh and basing himself in the London area.