Dave Craswell died last Saturday after a long battle with cancer.

He had been a patient in the Nioka Palliative Care unit for six weeks and died surrounded by his family. 

The singer-songwriter and guitarist – best known either for his half of The Craz Bros or the bigger club band lineup The Craz – had been part of the Tamworth music scene for years. 

The Craz was a popular fixture on club circuits and at parties and balls in the ’80s and ’90s, and Dave also played solo and in other band incarnations such as Treacle Line over the years.

One local muso said on Friday said he remembered Dave playing a John Lennon Christmas song for kids at a carols performance years ago that still gave him shivers for the touching and sensitive simplicity and excellence of it.

His family and his friends remember him as an easygoing bloke, one of life’s good guys and a gifted muso.

Dave Craswell was born in London and had three older brothers: John, Brett and Paul (Jasper). 

Dave’s son James said his grandfather had fought in the British Army in WWII and was also a musician, playing sax and clarinet in dance bands. 

“Dad worked as a jeweller before he was a musician, and was transferred to Tamworth from Sydney to manage a jeweller’s shop here,” James Craswell said this week.

“He met my mum, Leanne, while working here and as their relationship developed they decided to settle here after they married. 

“My older sister, Sophie, was born in 1985 and I was born in 1987.”

While growing up in England in the 1960s, Dave was a huge Beatles fan, which then led him to folk-rock music from the likes of James Taylor and Don McLean.

He was also a big fan of soul and Motown, and James thinks that’s where Dave developed his huge singing voice. 

He was also a fan of Genesis, The Police and other big-production ’80s pop bands around that time.

James described his father as a perfectionist when it came to his music.

“I played my first gigs as a duo partner with Dad,” he said.

“He had a relentless work ethic and fantastic attention to detail. 

“Something I always admired about him professionally is that he never let living in a rural/regional area restrict his musical potential. 

“With the Craz Band he proved that you don’t have to live in a capital city to have a great band, and that it’s the practice and hard work that counts the most. 

“He and my uncle also had a real knack for surrounding themselves with great people within the industry. All the players, technicians and agents that were involved with the Craz Band were among the region’s best. 

“Being in the industry now myself has given me even more respect for Dad’s professionalism and what the band achieved in their day.”

Offstage, Dave was an easygoing, loving man. 

“He was always at his happiest when at home with Mum, Sophie and I,” James said.

“He loved us with all his heart and we loved him just as much. He put family first in all that he did. 

“He had a great sense of humour, loved British comedy the likes of Monty Python and the Goon Show.

“He was also a keen golfer and would let no cold, heat or rain stand in the way of his weekly game! 

“As a kid I just thought he was the coolest guy on the planet. Ever since I started going to band practices with him, ‘helping’ him carry mic stands and music stands and watching him perform, I wanted to be just like him. 

“He bought me my first guitar when I was nine and he was always very encouraging in my musical studies.

“I’m proud to call him my father and have been throughout my entire life. 

“Later in life, Dad became a Christian and attended church regularly. Once he retired from professional music, he became involved in the church bands at Tamworth Baptist and Southside Uniting churches. He said these were among his best musical memories.”

Another memory will be made on Monday, when Southside Uniting Church at the Longyard hosts a gig they’re calling a Remembrance and Thanksgiving Service for Dave. It’s on at 10am.