b. Francis James Coughlan, 10 September 1904, Emmaville, New South Wales, Australia, d. 7 April 1979, Sydney, Australia. Born into a musical family, Coughlan was the third son to be taught by his father who was Band Master of the Emmaville Brass Band. Adept on trombone and trumpet, during the 20s he played with various dance bands in his homeland and also, in 1924, with the visiting Californians. Towards the end of the decade he travelled to London. While there he played in and recorded with several popular bands, including that led by Jack Hylton. Throughout the 30s he led his own bands in Australia, playing swing-influenced dance music. After military service during World War II he returned to bandleading with considerable success. A residency at Sydney’s prestigious Trocadero lasted in all for more than 30 years. A highly accomplished and thoroughly professional musician, his long-lasting career gives some measure of his popularity with audiences. His trombone playing was elegant and always pleasingly melodic.