Jimmy Shand

Sir James Shand MBE (28 January, 1908—23 December, 2000) was a Scottish musician who played traditional Scottish dance music on the accordion.

Not to be confused with his son Jimmy Shand Junior or Jnr., also an accordion player (b. 1937) and his band Jimmy Shand Jnr. And His Band.

James Shand was born in East Wemyss in Fife, son of a farm ploughman turned miner. One of nine children, they soon moved to the burgh of Auchtermuchty. The town is also known as the birthplace of the brothers Charlie and Craig Reid of The Proclaimers and now boasts a larger than life-sized sculpture of Shand.

His father was a skilled melodeon player. Jimmy started with the mouth organ and soon played the fiddle. At the age of 14 he had to leave school and go down the mines. He played at social events and competitions. His enthusiasm for motor-bikes turned to an advantage when he played for events all round Fife.

In 1926 he did benefit gigs for striking miners and was consequently prevented from returning to colliery work. One day Jimmy and a friend were admiring the instruments in the window of Forbes’ Music Shop in Dundee. His friend said “It wouldn’t cost you to try one”. Jimmy walked in and strapped on an accordion. The owner heard Jimmy and immediately offered him a job as travelling salesman and debt-collector.

He soon acquired a van and drove all over the north of Scotland. He switched to the British chromatic button accordion, an instrument he stuck with for the rest of his life.