One of the best-known faces - and voices - of the Suffolk music scene has died aged 78 after decades of gigging in the area.

Nik Wymer made his name in the 1960s as leader of Nik and the Nomads who played pubs, clubs, and village halls across the area - bringing rhythm'n'blues to a new audience in the days before pop music had its own radio stations.

East Anglian Daily Times: Nik and the Nomads in the 1960s (from the left) Ben Foster, Ron West, Dave Cutting, Roy Clover, and Nik Wymer.Nik and the Nomads in the 1960s (from the left) Ben Foster, Ron West, Dave Cutting, Roy Clover, and Nik Wymer. (Image: Archant)

As well as performing across Suffolk, the Ipswich-based group was well known within the music industry - at one point, Nik almost signed a record deal with top producer Mickie Most, but that did not happen.

They did release a single in 1964, a version of the old standard "You're nobody 'till somebody loves you."

But it was the flip side "She'll be sweeter than you" which has since become an R&B classic and is featured on USA compilation albums.

The Nomads split during the 1960s, but Nik continued to play across the area and also did some session work in London.

East Anglian Daily Times: Nik Wymer in full voice at the Railway in Ipswich in 2001.Nik Wymer in full voice at the Railway in Ipswich in 2001. (Image: Jerry Turner)

He later formed the Nik Wymer Band with his son Mark on guitar - and they remained a big draw at music venues like the Steamboat Tavern and the Railway in Ipswich.

One of their biggest fans was former Archant photographer Jerry Turner who took many of Nik's publicity photographs.

He said: "My first memory of Nik was when I went to see him with the Nomads at the Drill Hall which was on The Mount in Ipswich. I think that was in 1964 and that area has long since been redeveloped as Civic Drive etc.

"From then on I followed Nik and the Nomads to any gig where they were which was mostly village halls.

"At that time there wasn't much rock music on the radio let alone TV so it was either Footman's sound booths or travel to live gigs which gave me the entertainment that I needed."

Suffolk music broadcaster and radio presenter Stephen Foster said Nik and the Nomads had been very influential during the 1960s.

He said: "They brought that particular style of R&B to Suffolk and in many ways, they were very unfortunate not to have made the big breakthrough.

"But you have to remember there were excellent bands like them in towns and cities across the country and only a few were able to make a national breakthrough."

East Anglian Daily Times: Nik Wymer at the Steamboat in Ipswich with his band in 2005.Nik Wymer at the Steamboat in Ipswich with his band in 2005. (Image: Jerry Turner)

Jerry added: "The last few years have been quiet for Nik and his wife, Marlene, and, like all of us old men, he's been enjoying time with his gardening and his family.

"Following in his father's footsteps, Mark is now a highly respected rock guitarist who writes and records his own compositions."