trevor oakes, a founding guitarist of 1970s group Showaddywaddy, has died after a long illness, the band announced today. He passed away peacefully last month and was 79. Dave Bartram, former lead singer and now manager, paid tribute to his friend and bandmate.
Trevor Oakes: Career and hits
Trevor Oakes was a founding member of Showaddywaddy when two Leicester groups merged in 1973. He played guitar and served as one of the band’s main songwriters alongside Dave Bartram, and remained associated with the group until 2009 after a period of ill health. Showaddywaddy specialised in revivals of 1950s and 1960s hits alongside original material; the group achieved ten Top 10 singles and one No. 1—Under The Moon of Love—which topped the charts in December 1976 and helped the band spend a total of 209 weeks on the UK Singles Chart.
Showaddywaddy began when Choice and the Golden Hammers joined forces, creating a large ensemble with two vocalists, two drummers, two guitarists and two bassists. The band won a talent show on New Faces and later had a television special at Christmas 1980. Trevor Oakes stepped back from regular touring in his 60s amid ill health and his final performances with the original line-up took place around December 2008 and into 2009.
Immediate reactions from Dave Bartram
Dave Bartram, former lead singer and now manager, issued a direct tribute describing Trevor Oakes as a central figure in the band’s success. Bartram said: “Trevor was a unique character and a dedicated professional, without whom the band would never have quite scaled the dizzy heights we seemed destined to achieve. “
Bartram added: “He was also a caring and affectionate family man, with a mischievous sense of humour, which will be sadly missed by all those dear to him. ” He closed his statement with a personal note: “I could write a book about the incredible memories we’ve shared over the past fifty-seven years, but most of all I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his unwavering friendship. “
Background and what’s next
Two of Trevor Oakes’s sons pursued professional football careers: Steffan Oakes made appearances for Leicester City in the Premier League, and Scott Oakes played more than 170 times for Luton Town and appeared for England U21s. Showaddywaddy continue to perform with a later line-up and with only one original member still touring.
The band has not provided further public details about arrangements. The loss of trevor oakes is being marked by band statements and memories from colleagues, and the group’s recorded legacy—its chart run, television appearances and long-standing stage shows—remains the concrete record of his contribution to their success.
