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The amazing tale of late-Paul McCartney & Wings guitarist Jimmy McCulloch has been chronicled by author Paul Salley in the just-published book, Little Wing: The Jimmy McCulloch Story. McCulloch, who died at the age of 26 of a heroin overdose, was a child prodigy mentored by Pete Townshend, and with the Who leader’s help, scored a 1969 chart-topper with Thunderclap Newman on the Townshend-produced smash, “Something In The Air.”
Throughout the years, McCulloch played with John Mayall, Stone The Crows, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Carl Wilson, and the Small Faces, among many others — but will be forever remembered for his historic four year-stint with Paul McCartney & Wings. In addition to the “Junior’s Farm” single and touring with Wings in 1975 and 1976 as part of the “Wings Over The World” tour, McCulloch played on Mike McCartney‘s McGear album before lending his talents to such classic albums as 1975’s Venus And Mars, 1976’s Wings At The Speed Of Sound, and Wings Over America, along with 1978’s London Town.
According to Little Wing’s press release, the book “features over 200 rare images and exclusive interviews with close relatives, musicians, friends, and fans. McCulloch’s story is traced from his humble roots to his rise to international prominence, and his untimely passing in 1979.”
During the 1976 “Wings Over America” tour, Jimmy McCulloch spoke about plying his trade to Geraldo Rivera: “I turned professional when I was 15. I’d been playing four years before that. I started ’round about 11. I think, y’know, you’ve gotta get out there and be an individual and say, ‘Right, I’m gonna show ’em what I can do’ when you’ve got a chance to do your songs, or whatever, or play your solos.”
Paul McCartney said that he looks back to the 1975/1976 “Wings Over The Word” tour with particular pride: “I remember Wings, we did have some good lineups. And I think ’76, with Joe (English) and Jimmy (McCullough), and Denny (Laine), and Linda, we had — I think that was pretty good lineup, and we did some good stuff then.”