A lasting tribute is planned to Geoff Docherty - the Sunderland man who brought the music stars to Wearside

An annual event is being planned to remember the Sunderland music legend Geoff Docherty.

Geoff died aged 86 last month and will forever be remembered as the man who brought Pink Floyd, The Who, Led Zeppelin and Tyrannosaurus Rex to Sunderland in the ’60s and ’70s.

His funeral was held at Sunderland Crematorium on Friday, April 17, where family and friends paid their final respects to Geoff.

Close friend David Waller said his legacy will live on. David has organised a walk each year in recent summers on Roker beach and they have been held on Geoff’s birthday of June 30.

People shared tales of their nights at music venues in Sunderland as they walked from Sue’s cafe to the site of the former Bay Hotel and on to Grannie Annie’s where even more people were waiting.

David said: “That will continue. The walk will keep going on Geoff’s birthday and then people can meet afterwards at Grannie Annie’s.

“We want to keep the memories alive of the man who brought so many great music nights to Sunderland.”

David previously told the Echo that the event was held to ‘say thank you to Geoff on behalf of everyone from his family at the Locarno, Mecca and Bay Hotel.’

Geoff carved a niche for himself as a music promoter in the 1960s after seeing six years service in the Fleet Air Arm.

He became a club doorman before turning to music promotion, with the Bay Hotel, in South Bents.

Family were the first band Geoff booked to play at the Bay, on January 6, 1969, with tickets costing six shillings each. Then came Free a week later.

Tyrannosaurus Rex played at the Bay Hotel in June 1969 and at Sunderland’s Locarno ballroom in November of the same year.

Radio One DJ John Peel, another great friend of Geoff’s once declared the Rod Stewart and the Faces 1973 gig at the Locarno as his all-time favourite.

Geoff also booked names such as David Bowie and Mott the Hoople.

He was also the manager of a band from South Shields called Beckett who he first heard playing at Annabel’s in Sunderland.

David hailed him as ‘a very clever and gifted individual who I’m proud to have as a friend.’

Others called for a Blue Plaque to be installed in Sunderland in Geoff’s memory.

Lots of Echo readers paid tribute to him on the day that his death was reported by the Sunderland Echo.

One said: “We have so much to thank him for. Going to see bands at the Bay with a group of schoolfriends was a central part of growing up. I'm sure there are many like me who feel so lucky to have had the experiences he enabled.”

Another commented: “Rest in eternal peace Geoff. You were a star yourself.”

And one more said: “Geoff you made Sunderland a city of music, Thank you.”