Tributes have been paid to musician George Smith, who died yesterday aged 67 after a long battle against failing health.

Mr. Smith was a well-known entertainer who sang with his father, the late calypsonian Hubert Smith, in the Coral Islanders band.

He also had his own group, Xanadu, and played the maracas, congo drums and guitar besides singing. "He was a beautiful singer and he sang right up until the end," said his youngest daughter Stacey Smith last night.

"He loved all music and he used to have me listening to all kinds of music. "He was the most kind man anyone could know – everybody's daddy – but he was a 'no mess' kind of guy too and always spoke his mind, whether he would offend someone or not."

Mr. Smith, from Pembroke, also leaves three other children – Sonya Smith, Scott Smith and Sean Smith – 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

In addition to being an entertainer, he also worked as a self-employed painter and enjoyed deep sea fishing.

A Justice of the Peace and former president of the Diabetes Association, Mr. Smith suffered a stroke in 1999.

He had been hospitalised since last August and his death yesterday morning was due to a combination of diabetes, stroke and kidney failure.

His sister, Velda Ming, said: "He was a fantastic person. He lit up the stage with his smile.

"Through his illness he was never down very often and the happy-go-lucky smile and his personality still shone through his being."

As well as playing local hotels and guest houses, Mr. Smith had also entertained Princess Margaret and Prince Charles during royal visits to Bermuda and travelled with his music overseas.

He was given Government awards for his contribution to tourism and in the 1970s was also handed a bravery award for saving a child's life.

"The child was left in a truck and pulled the brakes off and the truck went down the steps and into the water on North Shore," recalled Mrs. Ming. "He jumped over and got the child out of the truck."

Music Box owner Eddie DeMello also paid tribute to his friend.

"He was a really nice guy — never involved in something he should not be.

"He started out with his father and then went out on his own," he recalled.

"He had a beautiful voice and did a lot of pop songs."

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.