Glowing tributes to guitarist Dave Rawson

MUSICIAN Dave Rawson will be remembered by his family as the talented obsessive who spent Sunday afternoons visiting guitar shops with his children and even took his beloved Fender bed with him.
Dave (third from left, with Dizzy Spells)Dave (third from left, with Dizzy Spells)
Dave (third from left, with Dizzy Spells)
 

MUSICIAN Dave Rawson will be remembered by his family as the talented obsessive who spent Sunday afternoons visiting guitar shops with his children and even took his beloved Fender  bed with him.

Best known for his time with the band Dizzy Spells, the dad-of-three's passion for his chosen instrument, which extended into family life, shaped a life featuring a firm friendship with legendary singer Joe Cocker and a memorable gig at HMP Broadmoor.

Born in Brinsworth, Dave later lived in Greasbrough and finally in Thorpe Hesley until his death last month, aged 71.

As well as playing in Dizzy Spells and other bands, notably Strings, he was a guitar teacher for more than 40 years, before being diagnosed with dementia at 68.

His ex-wife Jennifer described him as "very talented and a great teacher, as he was so patient".

She revealed: "He would always keep some of his own secrets - his 'knowhows', he called them.

"There was only one student he showed the Tokyo Polka too - and he only showed him the first half.

"He played until he got dementia at 68.

"He would go to bed with his guitar on his chest like some people do with their knitting - he would sleep with it on his chest all night.

"It was his obsession."

Dave was also a talented and "prolific" oil painter, Jennifer said, adding: "We have a full collection of his work because he never sold any. Leonardo da Vinci was his hero.

"He went to Rotherham Art College and rebelled. He would play in different bands every night of the week.

"He played US air bases and made friends with Joe Cocker. The only time I ever saw David cry was when Joe died.

"In 1995, they (Dizzy Spells) played at Broadmoor.

"They said they would do it for £1,000 and they said yes.

"David said it was quite quiet. He made a joke of it - he never took life very seriously."

Fellow musician Roger Brooks, of Letwell, highlighted Dave's "fast and flowing style", adding: "As a singer, I always enjoyed the many times I shared a stage with him, looking over to enjoy his talent as much as the audience did.

"He was a man whose blistering bursts of Telecaster brilliance were in contrast to his quiet, almost shy demeanour off-stage."

Dave, who died on April 23, leaves three children, Sarah, Michelle and Scott and grandchildren Loulou-Chanel, Scarlett and Grayson.

Jennifer said the number of mourners at his funeral on Monday had been limited by coronavirus restrictions but otherwise there would have been more than 500.

The family have asked for donations in his memory to be made to the Alzheimer's Society.