But more than a trip down the musical memory lane of 132 years since the first performance of HMS Pinafore by the fledgling Tamworth Musical Society, this latest book stars one of the city's most pre-eminent residents, a man known as the King of Tamworth, PG Smith.

Percy George Smith first came to Tamworth with his father Sidney in 1904 and the following year Sidney bought the former Cohen and Levy department store, renaming it PG Smith and Co after his son.

The store traded later as PG Smith and Regans and he remained active in later years as a director until the sale of it to Western Stores in the mid-1950s.

But it is Percy's musical and theatrical profile that is the bigger focus of The Life and Times of PG Smith, King of Tamworth, co-authored by former young city musical talents and friends Richard Hutt and Margo Bannister.

The book spans 200 pages with timelines of major musical and theatre productions, tracing PG's philanthropy in civic life but more interestingly his dynamic roles on stage.

PG has his first role in a musical society production in 1907 and appeared in countless shows from then until his last performance in 1949. He was a patron of the society from 1957 until his death overseas in 1964 at the age of 85.

The book contains over 80 arts and musical memorabilia and images - and the book launch on Sunday acknowledges the incredible historical research and history that Hutt and Bannister have pulled together for the publication - a lot of from the Hutt and Bannister family records.

It also traces PG's deep and generous connections to civic life, his horse racing patronage and other sporting interests. There are also personal anecdotes from PG's family and friends.

Margo now lives in Sydney and like Richard traces her family links to many earlier musical and theatre productions in Tamworth. Both authors, with an impressive back catalogue as well in adult theatre and musical life, will be at the launch.