A POIGNANT tribute concert is to be held this week in memory of a popular Gourock musician who passed away.

Ricky Donaldson, who was the keyboard player with local band Broomberry Drive, lost his battle with cancer in October.

The 64-year-old was an inspiring figure who helped many of the younger musicians who will turn out to show their thanks at the gig, which will take place at The Albany in Greenock on Friday.

Ricky’s wife Shirley said: “I think it is a lovely idea and a fitting tribute.

“It will be amazing to get to see all these familiar faces. 

“Ricky was always doing things for other people and it’s wonderful to think people are now doing this for him.

“I think he would have been overwhelmed.”

Angela Varty at The Albany knew Ricky well and came up with the idea, offering the venue for free.

Ricky’s lifelong friend Jim Lynn, who played alongside him in the band, said: “Ricky dealt with all the bookings for Broomberry Drive and Angela thought Ricky was such a gentleman and so easy to deal with.

“The concert will be performed by people who were directly influenced by Ricky.”

The gig is ticketed but free and all 200 tickets have been snapped up.

Jim said: “We could have doubled that number.

“The tickets are free because Broomberry Drive wasn’t about making money, it was just about playing together again.”

The bill reads like a ‘who’s who’ of Inverclyde talent — ranging from stalwarts such as Willie Gorman to John Pow while Barry Kelly from the Ten Gallon Bratz will be playing keyboard in place of Ricky for Broomberry Drive’s performances.

Jim said: “It will be emotional because Ricky always played at my right-hand side and I’ll look round and he won’t be there.”

Ricky mentored the younger generation who will perform at the tribute.

Singers Jacqui Hughes and Stephanie Lavelle, who met him through Kayos Youth Theatre, Rebecca Cameron and Jennifer Hall will all be performing on the night.

Jennifer says Ricky was instrumental in helping her to gain a music industry, management and live performance degree.

She first met Ricky in 1999 at the Tall Ships Festival and through Inverclyde Youth Theatre she had the opportunity to record a song written by Danny McCahon and composed by Ricky for an improvised play.

Jennifer said: “I will be forever grateful to Ricky for his compassion and sympathy, his unwavering support and belief in this young impressionable girl and for the joy and privilege it has been to work with him, learn from him and be inspired by the wonderful man he was.

“There is part of Ricky that lives on in his music and it is an honour to have been invited to perform these songs in his memory.”

All performers will be invited on stage for a finale to perform Ricky’s favourite song, Golden Slumbers.

There will be projected photographs of Ricky as a background to the concert and most of his own music will be used for backing tracks.

The concert takes place on Friday at 7.30pm.