THE MUSIC community has been left saddened following the death of well-known “legendary” guitarist Pete Cresswell.
The ex-professional guitarist started playing guitar in 1958 at 14 years old, and turned professional on a hit record of that time ‘Baby Sitting’ by Bobby Angelo and the Tuxedos.
The record was released on HMV and recorded in Abbey Road in October 1960 when he was 16 and reached number 30 on the British charts where it remained for weeks.
Pete was in many London blues bands before coming over to Ireland to join Gene and the Gents to replace Henry McCullough.
Paddy McDermott, the band’s leader and saxophone player, spoke about when Pete joined them, “We auditioned about 30 people and ended up with three guys remaining including Pete.
“The advantage that Pete had was he played a steel guitar and that’s what we needed, we were seen as a pop band so as soon as we got the steel guitar the band was flying.
“He came over and fitted in very well, he got slagged about being English but he was able to hold his own,” said Paddy.
After Gene and the Gents, Pete went on to have a long career being in many more show bands and even appeared on the Gloria Huniford TV show.
Pete went on make Fermanagh his home and even composed a song called ‘Enniskillen Town’ which the lyrics read, “Oh in Enniskillen Town, in that County called Fermanagh; That’s my home, That’s my home, That’s my home.”
On Thursday at the funeral home of Marcus Madill Funeral Director in Enniskillen, guitar and folk artists, young and old, came together to remember Pete by having a jamming session in his memory.
A devoted father of Janis (David) and Judy, a much loved brother of Jeffrey and the late Paul, also a very special grandfather of Emma and Christopher.
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