The only British performer ever to appear as a regular guest on Nashville's legendary Grand Ole Opry, singer, songwriter, and comedian Pete Sayers was born November 6, 1942, in Bath, England. The son of a music teacher, while still a toddler he received a violin from musical humorist Gerard Hoffnung, a close family friend. In 1949 the family relocated to Newmarket, where Sayers became a chorister, often re-creating favorite hymns on the harmonica. As a teen he formed the Bluegrass Cut-Ups, possibly Britain's first bluegrass band, and by the age of 18 he was regularly playing with the U.S. singer Johnny Duncan and his Blue Grass Boys. By 1966 Sayers was ensconced as the host of his own country music series on Tyne-Tees Television. That same year, he took a brief holiday to visit Nashville, and ended up remaining there for the next five years. Within weeks of his arrival in Music City he was hired as an Opry warm-up artist, a gig he held until 1969. Sayers frequently appeared on the show itself as well, additionally hosting a Nashville-based morning TV program. Upon returning to England in 1971 he toured with George Hamilton IV before founding the Grand Ole Opry (England), which staged its shows in Newmarket's Kingsway Cinema. His debut solo LP, Bye Bye Tennessee, followed on Pye Nashville International in 1973. Two years later, he returned with the Transatlantic label release Grand Ole Opry Road Show, followed in 1976 by Watermelon Summer. In addition to touring and recording, Sayers hosted no fewer than three BBC television series -- Pete Sayers Entertains, Electric Music Show, and Pete Sayers Sings Country -- and in 1979 he traveled to Bogalusa, LA, recording the album Bogalusa Gumbo with producer John D. Loudermilk. Around the time he completed his final studio LP, 1988's Midnight Special, Sayers partnered with BBC Radio Cambridgeshire presenter Christopher South, in the years to follow creating hundreds of comedic characters including the beloved yokel Dennis of Grunty Fen and rock & roller Ricky Storme, both of whom took on additional life during Sayers' concert appearances. After a long battle with cancer, he died on February 11, 2005. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
