Jimmy Winston

James Edward Winston Langwith (20 April 1945 – 26 September 2020), known professionally as Jimmy Winston, was an English musician and actor. He was the original keyboard player with Small Faces.[1] Winston had apparently previously worked under the stage name James Moody, before switching to Winston as a possible reference to Winston Churchill.[2]

Jimmy Winston
Winston (far right) with the Small Faces in 1965
Background information
Birth nameJames Edward Winston Langwith
Born(1945-04-20)20 April 1945
Stratford, London, England
Died26 September 2020(2020-09-26) (aged 75)
Occupation(s)
  • Instrumentalist
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
Instruments
Labels
Associated acts
  • Small Faces
  • Jimmy Winston and His Reflections
  • Winston's Fumbs

His acting credits include the 1968 stage musical Hair and the 1972 Doctor Who serial Day of the Daleks.

Small Faces

In early 1965, Winston, along with his acquaintance Steve Marriott, formed Small Faces with Ronnie Lane and Kenney Jones. While originally a guitarist, his role was soon shifted to become a keyboardist.[3] Winston was fundamental in the band's emergence, as his parents owned the Ruskin Arms pub located in Manor Park, a place where the group would rehearse and occasionally perform.[4] After a performance at the Cavern Club on Leicester Square, an assistant of manager Don Arden stepped up to the band and managed to secure them a contract with Decca Records.[3] The band released their debut single "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" later that year, peaking at number 14.[5] The success of this single would be followed by "I've Got Mine", which despite good reviews failed to chart. The group including Winston performed the song in Dateline Diamonds (1965).[6] Shortly after this release, Winston left the group, and was promptly replaced by Ian McLagan.

A factor that has been rumoured about his termination is that during an episode of Thank Your Lucky Stars, Winston snubbed Marriott.[7] There has been controversy whether Winston left the group himself or was fired. Lane stated in an interview that he was fired:

Our original organist, Jimmy Winston, wasn't working out. He couldn't play – I mean, none of us could play, but we was keen. Jimmy Winston couldn't play, and on top of it he had an ego as if he could play the piano, so he had to go! We chucked him out of the Small Faces. Very exciting times, the Sixties, there'll never be another time like it, I'm sure.

— Ronnie Lane, Small Faces Talk to You: The story of the Small Faces in their own words

However, Kenney Jones later said: "He [Winston] got above his station and tried to compete with Steve Marriott."[8]

Death

Winston died on 26 September 2020, at the age of 75.[9]

Discography

Solo

"Sun In the Morning" / "Just Wanna Smile" (1976)

with Small Faces

(While he is credited as the sole keyboardist on their first two singles, Winston is also credited on some tracks on four further albums released by the band)

with Jimmy Winston and His Reflections

"Sorry She's Mine" / "It's Not What You Do (But the Way That You Do It)" (1966)

with Winston's Fumbs

"Real Crazy Apartment" / "Snow White" (1967)

Filmography
Title Year Role Director Notes
Dateline Diamonds 1966 Himself Jeremy Summers as a member of Small Faces
Doctor in the House 1969 Hairy David Askey Episode: The Students Are Revolting!
Never a Cross Word Hippie Episode: Sir or Madam
No Blade of Grass 1970 1st Hun. Cornel Wilde
UFO Rating Ken Turner Episode: Destruction
The Ballad of Tam Lin Second Coven Roddy McDowall
Day of the Daleks 1972 Shura Paul Bernard All episodes
Justice 1973 Cyril Butler James Ormerod Episode: Covenant for Quiet Enjoyment
The Sweeney 1978 Sid (uncredited) Episode: Hearts and Mind
BBC2 Playhouse 1983 Flash Man Jim O'Brien Episode: Jake's End
Small Faces: All or Nothing 1965–1968 2009 Himself David Peck as a member of Small Faces, and also interviews

References
  1. Eder, Bruce. "Biography: Jimmy Winston". Allmusic. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  2. Hewitt, Paolo; Hellier, John (2004). Steve Marriott: All Too Beautiful... Helter Skelter Publishing. p. 70. ISBN 1-900924-44-7.
  3. "The darlings of wapping wharf launderette – the small faces fanzine – Jimmy Winston interview". www.wappingwharf.com. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  4. "Jimmy Winston – Room for Ravers". www.makingtime.co.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  5. "The Small Faces Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  6. Muise (2002). Gallagher, Marriott, Derringer & Trower: their lives and music. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 90. ISBN 9780634029561.
  7. Schmitt, Roland (1 August 2011). The Small Faces & Other Stories. Bobcat Books. ISBN 9780857124517.
  8. "Kenney Jones Interview". the Official Faces Homepage. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  9. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/10/11/jimmy-winston-founder-member-small-faces-obituary/
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