TRIBUTES have poured in for a musician who toured with Buddy Holly.

Ronnie Keene, 91, from Worthing, played with the rock ’n’ roll singer at the height of his career.

His widow Christine, said “music was his life blood”.

Ronnie was born in London in June 1926, moving to Worthing in 1939 where his parents had a grocery store in South Farm Road.

An only-child, he developed a passion for music from an early age, learning to play piano at the age of seven.

He was then called up for national service in 1944 and played in the Royal Artillery Band for two years.

In 1948, he got his big break when he joined the Ken Mackintosh Band in Nottingham.

Three years later he married big band singer Marion Keene who sang with Nat King Cole and Norman Wisdom.

In 1958, he became musical director for the British Buddy Holly tour, starring alongside Buddy and Des O’Connor.

Five years later, Ronnie worked in Cardiff and Swansea where he met his second wife Christine.

But things got hairy when he left the Grand hotel in Brighton just 15 minutes before the infamous bombing.

Christine, 68, of Clyde Road, Worthing, said: “He played quite a lot of Conservative and Labour functions, but that one stood out.

“But it didn’t phase him. The following day he was playing golf. “

In 1987 he appeared with his band in Worthing-based feature film Wish You Were Here.

In retirement he enjoyed bowls at Worthing Pavilion and golf at Worthing Golf Club.

Speaking about his passion for the game, Christine said: “Music was his lifeblood. But he absolutely adored golf.

“When it was a fabulous sunny day at Worthing golf club, he used to come home ten foot tall and say ‘that was millionaire’s stuff’.”

He also enjoyed meeting friends at Offington Park Club in “Cobweb Corner”.

Ronnie died on July 28 from heart problems. His funeral will be at Worthing Crematorium at 3pm tomorrow.

Christine added: “He was just a fabulous person and a gentle man in his ways.

“He was my boy.”