Vinny Peculiar - The Image That Made Me Weep
by Vinny Peculiar
published: 27 / 5 / 2020

intro
In our new series 'The Image That Made Me Weep', we are inviting a different guest with each edition to write of a music image that has had an impact on them. Singer-songwriter Vinny Peculiar writes about a photograph of his uncle Jim Wilkes, who was a trad jazz musician.
I’ve chosen an image of my Uncle Jim, Jim Wilkes, who was a fabulously accomplished trad jazz musician, entertainer and a big supporter of my musical endeavours. When I was a young kid discovering guitar, he sent me finger picking tips from folkie friends, chord shapes to practice, and took an interest in my music even though it wasn’t strictly speaking his kind of music. In adult life we’d meet for breakfast, swap stories and he’d sit the car to listen to my new recordings, share ideas on lyrics and support my ambitions. By day he taught English ending his teaching career as deputy headmaster in a Rochdale Comprehensive school, where he wrote and directed legendary school musical productions. He gigged continuously and maintained a lifelong passion for jazz. He died in 2006 but his lasting influence on me very much remains. A few months before his passing he gave me a poem he’d written. It brings together references of both family holidays, and his playing the trumpet on Blackpool Pier, one of his regular gigs. The characters in the poem are his parents, his brother and sister, my grandparent’s auntie and father. I used the words in the Vinny Peculiar song ‘Playing on the Pier’ which appeared on 'The Fall and Rise of Vinny Peculiar' album [2006]. I played the song to our Jim the week before he died and he approved, which meant a lot to me. We played it live for the first time in a long time at a recent band show. I’m proud to be keeping his words alive and in a small way maintaining a link to his memory. Here he is dressed in his best doing what he loved to do. Tribute to Jim Wilkes: http://www.jazznorthwest.co.uk/jwilkes.htm Lyrics to the poem 'Playing on the Pier': https://vinnypeculiar.com/lyrics/root-mull-affect/playing-on-the-pier/
Also In The British Summer Time Festival/
Band Links:-
http://vinnypeculiar.comhttps://www.facebook.com/vinnypeculiarmusic
https://twitter.com/vinnypeculiar
https://soundcloud.com/vinnypeculiar
https://www.youtube.com/user/arthurcrabtree
Play in YouTube:-
Have a Listen:-
interviews |
Interview (2022) |
![]() |
Singer-songwriter Vinny Peculiar talks to John Clarkson about his 'three quarters' modern art-themed latest album, 'Artists Only'. |
Interview (2020) |
Interview (2019) |
Interview (2016) |
Interview (2015) |
Interview (2014) |
Interview (2007) |
features |
Broadcast, Glasgow, 22/9/2016 and Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, 23/9/2016 (2016) |
![]() |
We profile two Pennyblackmusic shows with singer-songwriter and musician Vinny Peculiar at Broadcast in Glasgow on Thursday September 22nd and at the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh on Friday September 23rd |
soundcloud
reviews |
How I Learned to Love the Freaks (2023) |
![]() |
Literate and thought-provoking concept album about hippy culture from Vinny Peculiar, who remains one of our most individual and unique musical talents |
While You Still Can (2019) |
Return of the Native (2018) |
Silver Meadows (2016) |
Down the Bright Stream (2015) |
The Root Mull Affect (2014) |
Other People Like Me (2011) |
Sometimes I Feel Like a King (2009) |
Goodbye My Angry Friend (2007) |
The Fall and Rise of Vinny Peculiar (2007) |
Whatever Happened To Vinny Peculiar ? (2005) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Sukie Smith - Interview
Clive Langer - Interview
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Doris Brendel - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Kay Russell - Interview with Kay Russell
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Pulp - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Jay Reatard - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart