North Wales based guitarist Paul Brett who played with Ronnie Wood and Jimi Hendrix has died

Tributes have ben paid to a North Wales based musician who played with some of the biggest stars in music. Renowned guitarist Paul Brett, 76, has sadly died after a battle against heart disease.

Paul was a former member of The Strawbs and Overlanders and had performed with the likes of Al Stewart, Ronnie Wood and Jimi Hendrix.

At one point he also collected 150 rare acoustic guitars, during his time playing alongside the rock stars, which helped him build up a unique catalogue of instruments, many collected while on the road in the United States.

Paul who owned a shop in Pwllheli, Gwynedd, called All Kinds of Everything, campaigned against the opening of an Asda in the seaside resort and was also a former Chamber of Trade chairman.

John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd – which distributes musical instruments confirmed with “immense sadness” that Paul died on Wednesday, Jan 31.

In a tribute, they wrote: “Paul, one of the world’s most famous twelve string acoustic guitar players, led a life steeped in the music business. A noted and immensely talented guitar player of more than five decades or more he performed and recorded with an endless selection of household names in rock’n’roll.

“He was a music industry guru and influencer, a journalist, a prolific collector of art and memorabilia and an avid collector and world leading expert in vintage guitars.

“His life had many threads, he was a television contributor, composer/arranger, a marketer, A & R specialist, management and production expert, and an ardent fisherman.

Paul Brett, who has sadly died

“Latterly Paul became a guitar designer of note, designing of a range of over twenty different Paul Brett Signature model Vintage® guitars based upon many of his favourite American “working Men’s guitars” of the 1930’s.

“His last project for Vintage®, the just released, the Fret-Dancer Series, was created in memory of Paul’s old twelve string afficionado buddy Johnny Joyce, who passed away twenty years ago to the day of Paul’s passing and will be a fitting and enduring memorial to them both.

“Everything Paul did in his storied life brought pleasure, positivity and enlightenment to all who came in to contact with him and he approached life with a gusto, intensity, a wicked sense of humour, and a propensity for “telling it like it is”.

Paul Brett, who has sadly died, with his guitars

“Paul is survived by his devoted and beloved partner of 42 years, Michele Breeze. He will be missed by all who knew him and remembered fondly by all.”

His funeral will take place at Bangor Crematorium, Llandegai Road, Bangor LL57 4HP on Friday 23 February at 11am, preceded a goodbye tour of Pwllheli by the funeral cortege leaving from outside News Plus 59 High Street Pwllheli, Gwynedd at 9:30am

After the funeral service there will be a wake and celebration of Paul’s life at The Glyn y Weddw Arms, Llanbedrog, Pwllheli, Gwynedd LL53 7TH from approximately 13:30 R.S.V.P. please to [email protected]

Michell requests that in lieu of flowers, donations are made to the West Gwynedd branch of the RSPCA, in Pwllheli, Gwynedd, at 54 High St, LL53 5RR.

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