Comments on: Jan Fairley (1949 – 2012)

By: Anthony Cummins

Anthony Cummins — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 02:08:20 +0000

When I lived in Glasgow from 1980-1993 Jan Fairley’s “Earthbeat” was a regular weekly listen. In those days without iPods etc it was taped for listening in the car on cassette. Outside of Andy Kershaw then on BBC Radio 1 Jan’s was the only show opening ears to the beauty of sounds from Latin America. She was a trailblazer and I’m sure I echo the thoughts of many former Earthbeat listeners when I say to her (now grown up) children that their mum was someone special to many

By: Debbie Golt

Debbie Golt — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:42:03 +0000

I knew Jan for over 20 years. We met in the 80′s through the music of course tho I can’t remember when – it’s like she has always been there and now she isn’t. A big shift.
As Jane says there were certainly moments, however we always found our way through! Jan said she was at peace and ready the last time I chatted with her. So hard … I did not get to see her this time … Jan used her strengths and determination generously. I have written and spoken this elsewhere (on my radio show etc) however I remember vividly how she championed Yusa at WOMEX – 2002 I think – inviting her to perform in her presentation on Cuban women and music even though Yusa wasn’t scheduled. And we found a modus vivendi to co-present very diversely different sessions segued into one as I agreed to/wanted to include her in mine after she was turned down by WOMEX 2006 for a session, and being Jan she was totally determined that she must be there. Hats off – it worked!
And hats are the key – see her wonderful website http://www.janfairley.com and also her so honest blog at http://www.janfairley.wordpress.com where she shared so much and did her best to prepare us whilst continuting to contribute so much

Jan’s archive is in about 3 places I think – the main part being at Cardiff School of Music at the University in a specially named room in her honour – The Jan Fairley Room!

It would be brilliant to do a tribute to her at Cardiff next year as well as anything in 2012 and involve,highlight and draw upon that archive. I would be up for being part of that.

By: giuliana cesarini

giuliana cesarini — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 19:14:12 +0000

I remember Jane in -el Portus- Cartagena, Spain, during la Mar de Musica Festival… we spend a so lovely time and conversation together and with my daughter Claudia and Alessandro. They too remember her. She was so kind woman, available to listen the friends, I will remember her.
I am sad for her died, I hope she is with the angels… listening good music
ariverderci Jane
Giuliana Cesarini, from Spain

By: Daniela Rosselson De Armas

Daniela Rosselson De Armas — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:05:16 +0000

I have known Jan for over twenty years. I first got in contact with her in the 1980′s when I was researching for a PhD in Cuban Music. There were not that many academics I could turn to in those days and she was both encouraging and helpful. She continued to be so supportive of me during my career and various projects. I have so many memories of Jan over the years, in a personal in addition to a professional capacity. Our paths crossed many times in Cuba, London and Scotland and I will always remember her as an extremely strong, opinionated, energetic, positive, vibrant and fun person. I am so sorry and sad not to have seen her to say goodbye. I guess I thought Jan would go on forever! I will always remember her fondly.

By: Jane Cornwell

Jane Cornwell — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:19:42 +0000

We all knew she was going, but she still seemed invincible. She was more prepared than we were. To lose someone so full of life, knowledge, opinions and creativity is a tough thing to get one’s head around. Jan wasn’t easy, which was partly why she was so fabulous. She was never afraid to say what she thought , which was sometimes hard to take, and meant that sometimes we fell out. But Jan was too loveable, too irrepressible, to let go of. She had principles and stuck to them, fought for them. She was a proud feminist and old school activist who reminded you what was important, and got you back on track when you wandered away.

Jan and I met at WOMAD but bonded on a press trip to Portugal, and hung out in Cuba and the UK. I remember having a salsa lesson in Santiago de Cuba around 2006 when Jan – who happened to be there doing research on Cuba’s female musicians – stuck her face in between my dance partner and I with a loud ‘Hiya!’ Boundaries weren’t really her thing. We drove around town in old Cadillacs; back in the UK she interpreted the emails I got from a Cuban beau with humour, hilarity and occasional impatience. I remember traipsing up from Kings Cross weighed down with artwork to give to her Cuban beau; Jan was as demanding as I was.

I spent two days with her at her beautiful home in Edinburgh a few weeks ago. She was vibrant, death-defying. Visitors were pouring through the front door. She was sorting her archives, reminding herself of her legacy, fully aware of how loved she was, and is. She gave me a brooch and a jet necklace, which I’m wearing now. We hugged and she kissed me on each cheek as I left.

“What do we say?” I said, feeling teary. Jan was standing at her door.

“Hasta luego,” she said. “And take care of yourself.”

Jan was a one in a million.

By: Lucy Richardson

Lucy Richardson — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:12:38 +0000

A witty, courageous and true friend with an enormous depth of knowledge and understanding on all things musical and Latin American. Jan will be sorely missed.