Terry Uttley
Smokie co-founder is dead
Terry Uttley was on stage with Smokie.
© imago images / ITAR-TASS
Terence “Terry” David Uttley died at the age of 70. This was announced by his band Smokie on Facebook.
Bassist Terry Uttley has died at the age of 70. That gave his band Smokie on Facebook known. “With a heavy heart and with tearful eyes we announce that our beloved friend and bandmate Terry has passed away after a short illness. Steve, Martin, Mick and Pete are devastated and deeply saddened by his sudden and unexpected death”, it says in the Post according to which Uttley died on December 16. The musician was “a dear friend, a loving father and an incredible person”. “We are all extremely happy to have shared such a long life and stage with him.”
Together with his classmates from Bradford, guitarist Alan David Silson (70) and singer Chris Norman (71), Uttley founded the band, which is now on stage with a different line-up. After some name changes and legal disputes over the name Smokey, the band first released a record as Smokie in 1976. In 1977 they had their breakthrough with the song “Living Next Door to Alice”. The band’s hits also include “Lay Back in the Arms of Someone”, “Mexican Girl” and “For a Few Dollars More”.
Chris Norman shared a long journey with Uttley
Chris Norman says goodbye to his friend and longtime bandmate on Facebook. The singer wrote about a snapshot together: “I’ve known Terry since I was 12 and we went to St. Bede’s School together. We have shared many unique experiences over the years, not least the trip we went through with the group the 60s, 70s and 80s had. ” They haven’t seen each other often in recent years, but they have always kept in touch, explains Norman. “I’m very glad I saw him at Shirley’s funeral recently, although I didn’t know it would be the last.” According to media reports, Uttley’s wife Shirley died last November.