James King (5)

Scottish Pipe Band Drum Major. Died March 2, 2014. A product of the Ballingry School system in Fife, Scotland, Jim King grew up with the Dysart & Dundonald organization, rising through the ranks as quickly as any band in history, to take the band to Grade 1 status with Pipe-Major Robert Shepherd to become one of the world’s greatest, culminating with World Championship titles in 1977 and ’78. King led his corps to Word Pipe Band Drumming Championships in 1976, ’77 and ’80. In 1985 King left Dysart & Dundonald and joined the Grade 1 Polkemmet Colliery Pipe Band as a member of Leading-Drummer Jim Kilpatrick’s snare line, where he remained until 1986. In 1986 he spent one year in Kansas City playing with the Kansas City St. Andrew Pipe Band. He returned to Scotland in 1989 to become Leading-Drummer of Polkemmet under Pipe-Major David Barnes. One of the first Grade 1 bands to compete with more than 18 pipers, Polkemmet won the Scottish and European championships and finished second at the World’s in 1991. King joined the Grade 1 Vale of Atholl Pipe Band as Leading-Drummer in 1993, where he worked with Pipe-Major Ian Duncan to produce a consistent prize-winner at major championships, before retiring from competition in 2002 when he was replaced by Ian Tobin.