Famous for her ‘Share a cuppa with Jane’ monthly Beat column, writer and interviewer Jane Quinn has sadly passed away…
Tim Rice
For many years, Jane has been interviewing many of music’s biggest stars in her monthly page 2 column in the Beat, asking questions that were often bizarre. Sometimes her many guests came as a complete surprise to readers like lyricist and author Tim Rice (pictured), model and photographer Patti Boyd and Isla St.Clare.
Among the many musicians and singers she shared a cup of tea with down the years included, Jon Anderson of Yes, Melanie, Paul Young and Petula Clark, many of whom became close friends of the writer.
Her husband Jane released the following statement –
Tim and Jane Quinn (photo credit Tim Quinn)
“For over ten years Jane has taken delight in filling the inside page of The Beat with her ‘Share a Cuppa with Jane’ interviews with the marvellous musicians of our generation. At age fourteen, growing up in her native Indiana, Jane was captivated by the Beatle’s appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show back in 1964. To her delight the following British Invasion of the US all pitched up in her hometown of Indianapolis. Contacting a popular teen magazine of the period, ‘Tiger Beat’, she arranged to be their Mid-West correspondent. Her first interview was with Peter & Gordon. Her first question to Peter was: “Is your sister’s hair as red as yours?” Yes, she was quirky from the start”.
He added, “Our paths collided in the year 1986 thanks to the Beatles. A little boy from Liverpool met this wonderful girl from Indiana. We have been together ever since, forming our own management company, Mighty Quinn Management, working with such fabulous people as Steve Harley, Julie Felix, Bill Wyman, John Paul Jones, Blackheart and Kiki Dee. Each and everyone of them adored Jane”.
Roag & Pete Best
“For the last six months, Jane and I have been working on an extra special project to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the publication of John Lennon’s first book of poetry, stories and drawings. This celebration will be held at the Liverpool Beatles Museum from the 22nd of March and involves some of the biggest names from the world of entertainment. Our dear friend, Roag Best, has very kindly agreed to let me have use of the performing space at his Beatles Museum on Mathew Street to hold a special celebration of the life of Jane in February”.
“Please send your thoughts of Joy and Love to this beautiful woman. I would like to thank The Beat from the bottom of my heart for bringing great happiness into Jane’s life over the last decade. I hope you all have enjoyed Jane’s work”.
“With much love (it’s all you need, you know)”.
Tim Quinn
Our Beat editor David Parker added “Jane had an amazing sense of humour and was always reliable. To come up with someone who had interesting things things to tell readers. In answer to Jane’s simple questions, I know she was loved by all our readers and of course, will be sadly badly missed”.
Recently 74-year-old Jane released a book of her amazing cuppa guests. Published by New Haven Publishing Ltd, ‘Share A Cuppa Tea with Jane Quinn’ captures a unique look behind the scenes of many of the most extraordinary. With interviewees ranging from Leo Sayer, Steve Harley, Madeline Bell, Micky Dolenz, Chris Montez, Don McLean, Pat Boone, Melanie, Hazel O’Connor, Jackie DeShannon, Peter Asher, Petula Clark, and Kiki Dee, this book entertainers of the past 60 years. For more information on the book, go HERE