Tributes have been paid to well-known Ely music agent John Gammon as the local coroner appeals for information to help trace his family.

Mr Gammon, discovered 1980s pop sensation Katrina and the Waves, and ran a promotions company called Ham Acts during the same period.

He died aged 63 of cancer on August 10 and the coroner’s office are trying to trace his relatives in a bid to identify his next of kin.

He lived on Cromwell Road in Ely and was working as the UK Correspondent for Pollstar, a trade publication for the worldwide concert industry.

An obituary published on Pollstar’s website details Mr Gammon’s life and career.

It says he was a native of Ely, and studied journalism at Harlow College. That education was put to use when Gammon was recruited by Pollstar to report from the International Live Music Conference on a one-off basis.

The response to his coverage was so overwhelming that he became Pollstar’s longtime UK and Europe correspondent. His work anchored Pollstar’s international news pages up until his death.

In its obituary the magazine comments: “It is difficult to encapsulate 15 years of collaboration into a paragraph. The best we can do immediately is say farewell and acknowledge his contribution to not only the company, but the concert industry as well.”

Tributes have been paid to Mr Gammon via the website and Facebook and many from the industry have also contacted the magazine to offer their condolences including Paradigm’s Steve Ferguson, who said Gammon introduced him to many cool acts that became his first clients.

ILMC’s Terry McNally said: “I shall miss his blunt sense of humour and general love/hatred of the live industry.”

Kilimanjaro Live’s Stuart Galbraith added: “John was a true character and we will miss our regular banter with him.”

Writing on Pollstar’s Facebook page Annie Shackleton, of Ely City College, wrote: “Just the worst news! John was an absolute one off, and the wittiest and most entertaining of company. I first met him in 1980 and had recently caught up on social media. I had no idea he was terminally ill, but that’s typical John. RIP you lovely man xxx.” David Riley said: “A magic person and a magic agent to my first band Andy Pawlak when I was 17 when john worked with Mr Louis Parker’s Concorde.”

While Peter Smidt added: “Very very sad. Best live music bizz writer And truly nice person.”

The coroner is keen hear from anyone who may have information about Mr Gammon’s next of kin. Contact the coroner’s office on 0345 04 51364 if you can help.