James J. Coyne

1933-1992

James Coyne was born in Athlone, County Roscommon, Ireland, on January 15, 1933. He left for Scotland at the age of fifteen, immigrated to the US in 1959, and settled in Buffalo in 1963. He was always active in the Scottish and Irish communities as a piper, teacher, and promoter of Gaelic culture - especially pipe bands. He played with many great pipe bands, including the Highland Society Pipe Band, The City of Los Angeles Police Pipe Band, the City of Los Angeles Highlanders, the City of Glendale, and Pipe Major of the Clan Taraf Pipe Band. He was also one of the founding members of the Los Angeles Scots Pipe Band, which was the first American band to win the World Pipe Band Championships in Grade 2. Jim was renowned as a piping teacher, and after two decades of teaching, he founded the Coyne School of Piping in 1982--now known as the James J. Coyne Memorial School of Piping & Drumming. James was very loved and admired for the depth of his human qualities, his gentleness, light humor, and dedication to his work. He will be missed dearly.