A ROCKABILLY album from a Whitehaven band will raise money to battle multiple sclerosis in tribute to a former musician.

Country guitarist, Stephen Diamond, was diagnosed with MS in his late thirties and gradually the condition stripped him of his ability to play.

The 45-year-old former carpet fitter from Whitehaven played in several bands around the country and raised money for September 11 victims through his music.

His brother, Martin Diamond, a guitarist and vocalist for Whitehaven's Sunk said the band's debut album, First Prize, will be a "homage to Stephen's abilities and the struggles he'd endured over the last several years".

"We normally play quite rocky stuff, like the Foo Fighters, but it just felt right to play country, rockabilly music on this album as a tribute to Stephen because he was a fantastic musician," he said. "This is the kind of music he liked to play and he should have been playing with us on this album."

"MS can be a cruel disease, Stephen slowly lost his ability to perform and play guitar. He battles with it daily and it has been a devastating blow for the family and Stephen himself."

There will be a launch event for the album at the John Paul Jones on Friday at the John Paul Jones in Whitehaven from 10pm.

A percentage of the proceeds from the ten-track album's sales will go to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. For information on how you can order a copy, visit from www.sunkband.com or www.facebook.com/Sunk2014/