Extraordinary LIVES
PETE was born in Blackpool, the youngest of four. At the age of 13, he came to see the band in which I played drums and this started his lifelong love of singing and showbusiness. He became a professional singer at the age of 15, performing in hotels and working men’s clubs. A couple of years later, we became a double act, performing songs and comedy routines and touring the UK. Pete’s vocal talents were spotted by variety comedian Alex Munro, who booked us for a summer season in Llandudno, and BBC producers, who gave him a slot on Radio 2. In August 1973, we were due to perform at the Summerland leisure centre in Douglas on the Isle of Man. There was a terrible fire and 50 people died. We escaped the inferno, but lost all our equipment. In the mid-1970s, we auditioned for the TV talent show New Faces. Peter sang the beautiful song Yesterday When I Was Young. We lost by one point to another siblings act, the Chuckle Brothers. As well as performing in Norway, Spain and Malta, Pete became involved with a Blackpool charity that helped youngsters who
had got into trouble with the authorities. During our cabaret days, Pete phoned the office of Bernard Delfont, then the biggest impresario in showbusiness. Pete could do a great impression of Tommy Cooper and got through to Mr Delfont, who answered: ‘Hello, Tommy.’ Keeping up the impersonation, Pete said he had seen this very good double act and he should book them. It was only at this point that Mr Delfont realised it was a prank. When we appeared with Tom Jones in a club in Barrow, there was only one dressing room. But even though he was an international star, Tom didn’t mind sharing. After the show, he took us out for a Chinese meal. Pete changed musical direction and became involved in the British country scene, performing as Pete Naden And The Honest Truth and winning a number of awards for best vocalist and songwriter. He inspired country singer Charlie Landsborough’s first hit, What Colour Is The Wind, after overhearing a question from a blind child. Pete married his childhood sweetheart and they had three children, Peter junior, Deborah and Amber Grace. He adored his four grandchildren, Lydia, Holly, Chloe and Sammy. Six years ago, Pete was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. You can hear his remarkable voice on YouTube singing I Swear, with donations going to the Alzheimer’s Society. n PETER NADEN, born December 29, 1948; died February 23, 2021, aged 72.
HAVE you lost a relative or friend in recent months whose life you’d like to celebrate? Our Friday column tells the stories of ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives. Email your 350-word tribute to: lives@ dailymail.co.uk or write to: Extraordinary Lives, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT. Please include a contact phone number.