ONE of the founder members of the 1960s Glasgow blues band, The Poets, has died suddenly.

George Gallacher, an avid Partick Thistle fan, was driving home on Saturday from the team's match against Dumbarton at Firhill when he took ill behind the wheel on Maryhill Road.

He was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, but died a short time later. He was 68.

Partick Thistle posted a special message on their website offering their condolences to the Gallacher family.

George, who lived in East Kilbride, was a keen football player as a young man and had trials with Leicester City and Celtic Football Club in the early 1960s.

But it was music he chose to follow and in 1962, George formed the rock'n'roll and blues band The Poets with bassist John Dawson. George was lead singer and songwriter.

Together with Alan Weir on drums, lead guitarist Hume Paton and rhythm guitarist Tony Myles (who replaced an early guitar playing friend Stafford Hamilton), the band went on to become stalwarts of the Glasgow music scene.

Their trademark high heeled boots, white ruffled shirts and black jackets with velvet collars, conjured up images of Robert Burns and they were regularly seen in halls across the city, including their regular gig at the Flamingo club.

They were discovered and signed by Andrew Loog Oldham, manager of the Rolling Stones, and their Decca label debut, Now We're Thru, hit the Top 30 in the UK charts in 1964.

This was followed by a number of songs throughout the decade, with appearances on shows such as Top Of The Pops and US programme, Shindig!

George left the group in 1966, but resurrected the band two years ago with ex-Poets guitarist from 1965-7 and brother-in-law Fraser Watson.

Tony Myles is now the only original member after the deaths of John Dawson in 2002, Alan Weir in 2010 and Hume Paton in 2011.

Tony, who now works as a radio presenter in Spain, said: "George was the man who had a voice dripping in soul and emotion and the one thing for which he will always be remembered – originality.

"Being in his company was to be in the presence of a great talent..

"During his recent gig with the The Thanes, George kindly mentioned me and suggested to the audience it was now a case of 'Last man standing between myself and Tony Myles'. It is a competition I would never have wanted to win so soon."

From 1988 to 1992 George went to Strathclyde University, where he studied English and Philosophy. He also took up dramatic roles, including playing the lead role in 1994 in James Kelman's play One-Two-Hey at the Arches Theatre.

In later years, George also spent time working as a teacher in Glasgow, including periods in Hillhead, Hyndland, St Roch's and Holyrood Secondary Schools before his retirement.

He was also involved with heavy rock outfit the Dead Loss Band in the 1970s and early 1980s and during the 80s and 1990s played in the The Blues Poets.

Long-term fan Craig Watson, 30, from Cardonald, said: "I had the pleasure of meeting George at the Allan Mawn tribute night last year and also at The Poets reunion gig at Stereo, Glasgow.

"He was a true gent, such a positive man and gave lots of encouragement to young people in bands. He will be missed."

George is survived by wife Anne and their sons, Craig and Fraser.

fiona.mckay@ eveningtimes.co.uk