EMOTIONAL tributes have been paid to a much-loved Inverclyde music legend who inspired generations of performers for more than 40 years.

Benny 'The Blues' Turner sadly passed away on January 5 at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer.

His close friends Christy Jamieson and Panda McLuskey played in popular Saturday jam sessions with Benny.

They told the Tele that Benny's talent and kindness 'helped bring folk together' and say he will be sadly missed.

Panda said: "Benny was a true character and was loved by all.

"Everyone in the town knew him and you never heard a bad word said about him."

Christy added: "He was my best friend for 47 years.

"I couldn't have met a better man.

"He was a mentor for all the young performers coming up and was so well respected."

Christy and Benny met in 1979 and Panda got involved in the jam sessions in 1984.

The band became known as Burning Kilo and used to rehearse in the old Coasters venue on Tuesday nights.

In the early 1980s, the musicians decided they had enough of playing clubs and opted to get into the pub circuit instead.

Their Saturday jam sessions evolved from that and took place all over the town.

Christy says getting young musicians involved was always Benny's priority.

He added: "We served our musical apprenticeships in the pubs around Inverclyde.

"Young people starting out a few years back didn't have the chances that we had to get onto a stage.

"We realised that we had all the gear and all the equipment and Benny said 'this town needs a jam session'.

"He gave these young musicians the confidence to get up there and perform, to grow musically and hone their craft."

Panda added: "We didn't have a lot of songs at the start but people who started coming along to the jam sessions were all musicians themselves, so we got a lot of songs together.

"Benny would hear people play and say 'I'm going to get them in the band'

"Even when Benny was struggling with his walking and was using two sticks, he was always determined to get to the Saturday jams."

Benny was born and brought up in Weir Street and lived in Greenock all his life.

He was a welder by trade and was one of the longest serving apprentices in Inverclyde, working at Cartsdyke and then IBM.

Benny met his sweetheart Jan 50 years ago and they married six years later, spending their married life in Lyle Street and Regent Street.

The musician leaves behind his dear wife, their son Christopher and his sisters Liz and Sally.

He also had a brother, John, who sadly passed away.

Benny's family have kindly donated Benny's much-loved Fender Stratocaster to the band.

The guitar will be available for young Inverclyde musicians who want to get involved in the jam sessions - and will help Benny's legacy live on.

Following Benny's funeral on Monday, friends and family headed along to a special tribute jam session at the Gin House Hotel in Greenock.

The jams will continue to take place from 5pm every Saturday at the Gin House - and Benny's guitar will take pride of place on the stage.

Christy said the band will always have Benny in their hearts when they play.

He added: "The guys in the band are brothers now and we look after each other.

"Benny was the one who started that and held us all together."

Panda said: "Benny was the daddy of the band, the stalwart.

"He was a blues man and definitely one of the best blues guitarists in the west of Scotland.

"He'll always be with us on the stage."