Tributes have been paid to veteran Bermudian musician Graham Bean, who died on Sunday night at Bayfront Medical Centre in St. Petersburg, Florida.Kenneth Howard Graham Bean was 81 years old. The cause of death was congestive heart failure.Born in 1929, Mr Bean grew up in Spanish Point, Pembroke, the eldest of seven, and devoted his life to music from an early age, acquiring the stage name “Graham Central”.A guitarist and songwriter, Mr Bean became a prominent calypso figure in Bermuda’s hotel circuit of the 1950s and ‘60s, known for his liking of Latin music.Largely self-taught, he was trained also by American jazz and country guitarist Les Paul, and his wife, singer Mary Ford.His son Shane said: “My father’s band played all the hotels Sonesta Beach, the Bermudiana, Elbow Beach; all of them. He performed every chance he got.”A keen traveller and collaborator, Mr Bean played in many bands but is best remembered for the 1960s group The Four Bee’s, in which he played with his wife Moira, brother Kenneth, and sister-in-law Kathie.The couple moved to the United States with the decline of hotel entertainment’s heyday in Bermuda, and for many years lived in Long Island, New York, where Mr Bean operated an ambulance company called Bermuda Transport Services.Mr Bean continued to play music until about 12 years ago, when he started to lose sensation in his fingers. For the last four years the couple resided in St Petersburg.“We were recently going to get him a new steel guitar, because his picking hand was still good,” recalled his son Shane.Music historian and former Minister Dale Butler hailed Mr Bean as “an entertainer’s entertainer”.“Moira, his wife, has asked me to say she is grateful for the calls and e-mails.”Both were recently inducted into Bermuda’s Music Hall of Fame, at musician Wendell (Shine) Hayward’s Music Centre in Pembroke.Mr Butler said: “On behalf of Mr Hayward and myself, we are saddened with his passing, but grateful we were able to induct him and in so doing capture his life story on film.”Mr Hayward said: “Graham was one of the last of a dying breed, and Bermuda misses musicians of his calibre. Musicians here also miss the opportunities he and other guys from that era had to perform, at a time when entertainment was entertainment in Bermuda.”Pianist Dennis Fox, who was the youngest member of Mr Bean’s Latinaires group, recalled him as “a heartwarming man, always very ready to teach”.“Graham would do anything for you. And he paid very well. I was flabbergasted at the amount of money we could make in those days.”Mr Fox said he had remained close to Mr Bean.“We visited them in Florida the Christmas before last, and I spoke with him last Thursday. Graham had been battling his ailments and had been readmitted to hospital. They hoped for him to make a last trip to Bermuda, but unfortunately he wasn’t able to make it.”Graham Bean is survived by Moira DC Bean, siblings Kenny, Sheila, Juliette and Allan. Sisters Janet Hampton and Eleanor Foggo are now deceased.He is also succeeded by children Sharon Hall, Kim Bean, Shane Channing Bean and Robin Trott.Condolences may be sent to lbean[AT]optonline.net.lUseful web link: www.hipwax.com.