Let's beat the drum for good old Brum!

NEW Orleans, Memphis, Nashville… what would these American cities be without music?

And just imagine. In the unlikely event of these iconic places’ historic links to jazz, blues and country ever being broken, then their beating musical hearts would be stilled and countless millions left to mourn.

That’s because music is more than important – it’s life affirming. Music lifts our spirits when we’re down, gives us that unmistakable buzz when things are going well, and generally soothes our souls, whatever our mood.

That’s why I’d like to share some exciting news from that unofficial capital city of the Midlands, Birmingham. For this week it’s made a bid for official ‘City of Music’ status.

And the exciting move could have received no better endorsement than that of music legend Jim Simpson, because the original manager of Black Sabbath has pledged his full support for what he’s calling the city’s “adventurous and exciting” bid.

Many of you will know about Jim’s tireless promotion of all forms of music in Birmingham over a truly astonishing seven decades, but for those of you who have been on another planet since the late 1950s, here’s a bit of a recap.

Jim Simpson managed Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi’s original Earth band in 1969, soon relaunching them as Black Sabbath and releasing their first two legendary albums called Black Sabbath and Paranoid in 1970.

Jim lost control of Black Sabbath shortly afterwards, but more than 55 years later he’s still enthusiastic about the band’s birth in Birmingham, and how this can help elevate the city’s rich musical heritage.

Now in his mid-80s and still ubiquitous on the Midlands’ music scene with his Big Bear Music company, he said: “I fully support Birmingham City Council’s adventurous and exciting bid for ‘City of Music’ status.

“Black Sabbath’s global popularity alone qualifies Birmingham as the birthplace of heavy metal, but the city has so much more music to celebrate on top of that.

“Important bands that also originated in the city include Dexys Midnight Runners, Duran Duran, Fine Young Cannibals, Musical Youth, The Nightingales, Ocean Colour Scene, The Spencer Davis Group, The Move and ELO – and those are just a few that spring to mind.

“As well as history, you’ve got the current live music scene in so many genres, including top jazz and blues, and some of the world’s best classical music from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

“For the city council to be looking at how to package this all up as Birmingham’s bid for ‘City of Music’ status is a fantastic idea, and I’m keen to help this succeed in any way I can.”

Jim’s comments follow the approval of a £1 million culture fund in Birmingham City Council’s latest budget, approved earlier this month.

And council leader Councillor John Cotton said this would be used to help bid for ‘City of Music’ status, celebrating Birmingham’s rich musical heritage.

The council is expected to release its bid plans shortly, but they are known to include The Crown, the vacant pub on Station Street in the city centre, the home of the now legendary Henry’s Blueshouse, where Black Sabbath played their first gig under Jim Simpson's early management.

Jim added that he had now contacted Councillor Cotton direct to offer his assistance.

As well as his Black Sabbath background, JIm’s Big Bear Music company today operates three live music nights a week in and around the city, and organises the annual Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival, now in the planning stage for its 42nd consecutive year.

The festival will this year run for 10 days from Friday, July 24 to Sunday, August 2 and is expected to involve well over 150 performances, mostly free, in scores of venues.

Last year saw the festival host 179 performances, 166 of them free, in 101 venues, to an audience of nearly 65,000.

The live nature of the festival and its longevity since 1984 have been highlighted by other cultural figures as a potentially important part of Birmingham’s City of Culture bid.

Andrew Kirkman, professor of music at Birmingham University, said: “The City of Music bid is a great idea, and I hope very much that it will reflect the sheer pleasure that the Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival gives to so many people every year.

“I’ve enjoyed the festival so much myself, especially experiencing how other people make a whole day of it going around different gigs to see and hear such astonishing quality, and most of it free.

“I remember last year being blown away by amazing performances by the amazing jazz trumpeter Bruce Adams and sax player Alan Barnes, some of the best live music-making I’ve ever heard, and completely free of charge. 

“The festival provides great and ongoing value for Birmingham's music scene, which basks in the quality of jazz musicians who visit the city year after year.”

Councillor Deborah Harries, who holds the arts and culture brief for the Liberal Democrats in Birmingham, said: “We welcome the £1m culture fund in the council’s recent budget, which includes plans to develop a bid for City of Music status to celebrate Birmingham’s rich musical heritage.

“However, it’s important to also recognise the vibrant music scene that exists in the city today. Jim Simpson’s Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival has its own 40-year history in the city and will again this summer attract musicians from all over the world, to hundreds of mostly free events across the Midlands.”

The status as a ‘City of Music’ is designated by UNESCO in recognition of musical heritage, having a vibrant music scene and commitment to integrating music into urban development. More than 75 cities worldwide currently have that status, and this includes Liverpool, Glasgow and Belfast in the UK.

So. New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville... now let’s hear it for good old Brum!