A well-known figure on the Capital's jazz scene for many years, Pat Quinn transformed the Edinburgh International Jazz Festival's annual jam sessions into sell-out events.
He also wrote 20 books and had a successful advertising career in the UK, I
reland and America.
He lived in Eddleston, near Peebles, with his wife Marion for 34 years.
Mr Quinn was born in London and went to school in the East End. He wrote his first novel when he was 20, later admitting it was "dreadful".
He became hooked on jazz music when he was a teenager. He bought himself a drum kit, attempting to copy idols such as Joe Morello and Max Roach. During his National Service he formed a band in Libya, where he was stationed. He met his future wife in 1955, when he was 18 and she was 15. She had been living just a few doors down in his street, and the couple married in 1960.
Mr Quinn then turned his writing talent to working as a copywriter for an advertising agency. As his career took off, he began working in Dublin and Miami. One of his most successful campaigns was helping to revive the flagging Kerrygold butter brand in the 1970s, which led to it being a bestseller around the world.
During his spare time, he wrote nine detective novels, as well as short stories, including Ready For Take-Off in 1986, a student's guide to flying training, after fulfilling his goal of getting a pilot's licence.
The couple moved to Scotland with their two daughters, Viv and Lisa, and he quickly became involved in the Edinburgh music scene. He became jazz critic of the Evening News 13 years ago, when he was asked to cover the International Jazz Festival.
He played with some of the best-known names on the Scottish jazz scene, including Colin Steel and Nick Gould. The jazz community paid tribute to him last year with a special evening at the Lot, in the Grassmarket, with an all-star line-up.
Mrs Quinn said: "He had a very happy knack of turning things round. The first time they had a jam session only five people turned up. At the last jam in 2006 in the Spiegeltent there was standing room only. Pat commanded a lot of love and respect among the musicians. When he began writing reviews, it was obvious he really knew what he was talking about. He was larger than life and had very wide-ranging interests. He was adored by his family."
Mr Quinn died at the Borders General Hospital on Friday, following a long battle with prostate cancer. He also leaves seven grandchildren, Chris, Gina, Victoria, Oliver, Kirsty, Stacey and David. A funeral service will be held at Mortonhall Crematorium Pentland Chapel on Thursday.
The full article contains 493 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
