Tributes have been left for a popular musician who tutored disabled Swindon children and worked with some of the hottest bands of the 1980s.

Originally from San Diego, California, James ‘Jim’ Eddings died unexpectedly on Sunday 11 June aged 53 in Oxford’s Churchill Hospital.

Born in California, Eddings came to Britain while a member of the United States Air Force, serving at Fairford. He moved to London and returned to his first love: music. As a session musician, he played with top 1980s bands Heatwave, Soul II Soul and Tongue ‘n’ Cheek.

He met partner Agnes Claudette Marrast, a support care worker, in Swindon in 2013. The pair had been engaged for over a year when Jim died.

Claudette, 39, said: “Jim was precious, he was inspiring, he was motivated. He always put everybody else first. He was an exceptional person.”

Although the pair had first come across each other in 2007 when they were neighbours, it wasn’t until six years later that they met again – after a friend set up a secret pub date.

“I’d just come out of a relationship. She was trying to motivate me to get out of the house. I’ve never met anyone like him. He was my rock – he was my everything.”

After moving to Swindon in the late 1990s Eddings began working with children and young people – particularly those with disabilities and special educational needs. He was a music tutor at St Luke’s Special School.

Mandy Leonard, 55, who worked with Eddings at the Priory residential centre for young people with Asperger Syndrome, said: “He could have these people who were highly anxious. After just a few minutes with him in the music room they calmed down.

“He really did believe that music could heal and communicate.”

He set up business Inner Sound Development in 1995, using music to help boost people’s self-esteem and communication skills.

Friends of the popular musician hope to set up a music scholarship in his memory, enabling a talented young musician to college or university.

They will hold a fundraising event at the County Ground Hotel on Saturday 24 June from 6pm, including a charity raffle.

Ezekiel ‘Zeeks’ Williams, a Swindon-based music producer who was convinced to write his first song by Eddings, has organised the event.

“He will always live on in me through my music,” he said. “I will always remember him as the person who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.

“Before anything he was my friend.”

James ‘Jim’ Edding died on 11 June aged 53, leaving behind a son, Emem. A memorial service will take place at Christ the Servant, Abbey Meads, on Saturday 24 June, at 12pm. It will be followed by a fundraising event at the County Ground Hotel, 6pm to midnight. A Justgiving page has been created: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jamesfeddings.