TRIBUTES have been paid to a beloved bassist and construction worker who has died.

Sean McNulty passed away at the age of 64 following a battle with cancer. He was well known across south Essex as the bass player for the band “The Business”.

The five-piece performed solidly for the best part of 40 years, and after retiring would reunite for charity concerts, including a performance at the Railway Hotel in Southend in 2017.

Mr McNulty has been described as “the driving force” behind the band’s charity endeavours by his family and bandmates.

John Haseltine, the band’s lead singer, said: “He never had a bad bone in his body. He did all sorts of charity things and would suggest it and he was always the instigator in that sort of behaviour.

“He puts his heart and soul into raising some money.

Echo: Bassist - Sean McNulty performing with The Business at the Railway Hotel in Southend in 2017

“The band has been going for 40-odd years. He’s been the bass player for most of that time.

“He worked with Jimmy Diamond and Kenny Lynch.”

Mr Haseltine believes the band had raised thousands of pounds for charity during their time performing.

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Kate McNulty, one of Sean’s two daughters, said: “He definitely had a very dry sense of humour.

Echo: Bassist - Sean McNulty performing with The Business at the Railway Hotel in Southend in 2017

“He passed on his love for music to us and he took me to my first concert at Ipswich Football Club to see Dire Straits in the late 80s.”

Mr McNulty was born and raised in Laindon near the Langdon Hills Country Park, before moving to Bowers Gifford.

At the time of his death, he had been living in Tiptree, and worked as a construction worker for Bellway Homes, having stints as a site manager in Laindon.

Ms McNulty added: “He was just very funny, and one of the examples is I was teasing him about using his phone, computer and iPod, and his response was ‘I taught you how to use a spoon’.”

Tributes have been paid to Mr McNulty by other musicians.

South Essex-based band The Poachers said on their Facebook page: “Our next gig will be dedicated to Sean with our thoughts very much of him that day.”