Pete Dello

Last updated

Pete Dello
Honeybus 921-7191.jpg
Honeybus, 1968. Back L-R: Colin Hare and Pete Kircher. Front L-R: Pete Dello and Ray Cane
Background information
Born
Peter Blumsom

(1942-05-26)26 May 1942
Oxford, England
Died21 February 2026(2026-02-21) (aged 83)
London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • keyboards
Years activeEarly 1960s–early 1970s
Labels
Formerly of Honeybus

Pete Dello (born Peter Blumsom, 26 May 1942 – 21 February 2026) was an English singer-songwriter who was popular during the 1960s and 1970s, including as lead singer of the band Honeybus. He was later a music teacher.

Contents

Career

Dello started his career as a musician in the skiffle era of the 1950s and was a founding member of the rock and roll band Grant Tracy and The Sunsets, after which he joined Steve Darbishire's backing group, The Yum Yum Band, in the mid-1960s. This led onto him forming Honeybus, with whom he scored the hit single "I Can't Let Maggie Go" in 1968.

Quickly leaving Honeybus rather than tour and promote the single, he next cut a solo album Into Your Ears in 1971, and also worked with John Killigrew. Ultimately he quit the music industry for other interests during the 1970s. Since then Into Your Ears has become a collectable album, with copies selling for over £1,200 in perfect condition. [1] It has also been re-issued on compact disc in 2005, and again in 2009.

He wrote songs with all his bands (and also for The Applejacks). The Dello-penned song "Do I Still Figure In Your Life?" has been covered by Dave Berry, Joe Cocker, Iain Matthews, Dave Stewart, Paul Carrack, Dana, Kate Taylor, Saturday's Crowd and Pierce Turner. His co-writer was Ray Cane. Dello was also a session musician, and he was hired for Unit 4 + 2, The Scaffold and The Roulettes.

The song "I'm a Gambler" by Lace (1969) was reissued as a single under the pseudonym Red Herring in 1973.

Dello's biggest success "I Can't Let Maggie Go" was given a second round of popularity when it was used for a 1970s Nimble breadTV commercial, which brought him much welcomed royalties which he successfully invested.

Death

Dello died in London on 21 February 2026, at the age of 83. [2] [3]

Discography

Singles

Sunsets

Grant Tracy & The Sunsets

Steve Darbishire and the Yum Yum Band

Honeybus

Lace

Magic Valley

Leah

Red Herring

Magenta

Albums

Notable compilations

References

  1. "PETE DELLO & FRIENDS/INTO YOUR EARS/NEPENTHA UK 71 ORIG – auction details". Popsike.com. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  2. "Mort de Pete Dello, génie méconnu de la pop anglaise". Télérama. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  3. "Pete Dello (Peter Blumsom)". The Times. 26 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  4. "Honeybus Recital LP 72 Promo only Psych Acid Folk Pop Warner K 46248 mint- RARE – auction details". Popsike.com. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  5. "Honeybus – Recital (LP)". Hankypankyrecords.bigcartel.com. Retrieved 27 June 2019.