Obituary: David Bower, musician

He was rhythm guitarist with The Cherokees, a five-piece beat outfit that followed in the footsteps of the Beatles to play in Hamburg’s Star Club, and eventually had a chart hit with Seven Daffodils, in 1964. It reached number 31 and was one of five singles the group recorded over a three-year period.

Their producer was the prolific Mickie Most, later a celebrity in his own right, but he failed to score them the success of his better-known acts, Herman’s Hermits and later Suzi Quattro.

The Cherokees did, however, have a cameo role in Michael Winner’s 1965 comedy film, You Must Be Joking, and later went under the name New York Public Library, before Bower launched a solo career as a singer and multi instrumentalist.

Born in Leeds, he was the son of the late Marjorie and Bill Edwin Bower. An amateur goalkeeper, lifelong fan of Leeds United and a close friend of the club’s long-time player, Paul Reaney, Bower coached a Sunday League football team in the city before moving to Vancouver Island.

He is survived by his partner, Beverley.