Terry Uttley
Terence David "Terry" Uttley (9 June 1951 – 16 December 2021[1]) was a British bassist. He was the bass guitarist for Smokie from 1964 to 2021. From 1996 onwards, Uttley had been the last original member that was still in the band.
Terry was a pupil at St. Bede's School in Bradford.[1][2] Uttley formed Smokie in 1964 with St. Bede students Chris Norman, Alan Silson,[2] and Ron Kelly (later replaced by Pete Spencer). Terry had initially turned down the offer to join the band, as he was an apprentice printer, but after the third time, he accepted.[2] The groups best selling single, "Living Next Door to Alice", went to number three in the UK, and in 1995 was re-recorded featuring Roy Chubby Brown with the line "who the fuck is Alice?" added into the chorus (which also charted at number three in the UK[3]).[4][5] Other hit singles include "If You Think You Know How to Love Me", "Oh Carol", "Lay Back in the Arms of Someone", and "I'll Meet You at Midnight".
During a plane flight to Sweden to record with Agnetha Fältskog, the band decided to part ways. Smokie went on hiatus between 1981 and 1986, during which Uttley worked with Peter Goalby and John Coghlan.
When Uttley's wife Shirley was diagnosed with cancer, Terry worked with multiple cancer-related charities.[6]
Uttley died from a short illness on 16 December 2021, aged 70.[1] His wife of 45 years[7] Shirley had died nearly a month before from cancer on 17 November[6] aged 76. He was survived by his two children. He had a private funeral held in Ilkley, where he had lived for forty years.[8] Tributes came in from fans and music colleagues and friends, including Don Powell, former Slade drummer.[7]
From 1996 until Uttley's death, he was the only original member still in the band. After Terry's death, Smokie decided to carry on touring without Uttley, or any founding members.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Previous Band Members". Smokie. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ a b c "Smokie's Terry Uttley has died after short illness". Ilkley Gazette. 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ "SMOKIE FT ROY CHUBBY BROWN". Official Charts. 1995-05-06. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). Guinness World Records Limited. p. 510. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 2005. ISBN 9780857125958 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Terry Uttley: 1951 – 2021". DMME.net. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ a b Robinson, Andrew (2021-12-19). "Smokie's Terry Uttley dies as Bradford band issue emotional statement". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ "Fans line street to say goodbye to Bradford rock legend". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- 1951 births
- 2021 deaths
- People from Birkenshaw, West Yorkshire
- People from West Yorkshire
- People from Yorkshire
- Musicians from Birkenhead
- Musicians from West Yorkshire
- Musicians from Yorkshire
- English bass guitarists
- English rock bass guitarists
- British bass guitarists
- British rock bass guitarists
- 20th-century English bass guitarists
- 21st-century English bass guitarists
- 20th-century British bass guitarists
- 21st-century British bass guitarists