A LOCAL musician who played in Gene Pitney’s backing band has paid tribute to the pop legend, who died last week.

Tom Tyson, owner of The Music Farm recording studio, near Egremont, was Gene’s bass player for 18 months in the early 1980s.

“We have lost a real gentleman,” said Tom.

“He was really down to earth and will be greatly missed in the music industry.”

Tom celebrated his 21st birthday while on tour with Pitney in 1981.

“We were in the Circus Tavern, in London, and he got a bottle of champagne for me.

“He was a lovely guy.”

Tom will never forget the first time he travelled in an aeroplane, during a 1980 tour.

“It was in 1980 and we were going to a gig in Dublin.

“Gene and the band knew that I was nervous about flying so they wound me up about it and played practical jokes while we were up in the air,” said Tom. “I hadn’t travelled far before I joined the band but I ended up travelling all over the world with them.

“My time with them was most memorable.”

Pitney’s body was found in his room at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff last Wednesday.

The 65-year-old American star last played a gig in Carlisle in October 1965, at what is now the Lonsdale Cinema on Warwick Road, with Lulu as the support act.

His 40-year career included 11 UK Top 10 hits.

He rose to fame in the sixties with hits including 24 Hours From Tulsa and was introduced to a new generation of fans in 1989 when he duetted with ex-Soft Cell frontman, Marc Almond, on Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart.

The single gave Pitney his first UK number one – 22 years after its first release.

Pitney played St David's Hall in Cardiff, on Tuesday and was then due to perform in Bristol.

He was in the UK on a 23-date tour which had been due to end later this month.

During an interview, at Christmas, Pitney denied it was a gruelling schedule, saying: “I take care of myself. I can finish up the tour no problem whatsoever.”

He once worked with the Rolling Stones, in their early days, and is also credited with helping them find fame in the US.

In 2002 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Pitney’s tour manager, James Kelly, said the singer had been found dead in his room by long-term friend, Geoff Clennell.

“We don’t have a cause of death at the moment but it looks like it was a very peaceful passing,” said Mr Kelly.

“He was found fully-clothed, on his back, as if he had gone for a lie-down.

“It looks as if there was no pain whatsoever, which is nice.”