A MUSIC teacher has recorded a moving musical tribute to her late father by recording a version of Art Garfunkel’s Bright Eyes, a song they sang together for decades.

Laurenne Chapman, 33, was left devastated when her father Charles Chapman died in November after a six-month battle with bone marrow cancer, myeloma.

Mr Chapman, who was 66, was a well known figure in Darwen and had spent his career working in the town at ICI.

However, his passion was always music, being a talented guitar player, something in which he nurtured in his only daughter Laurenne.

To mark Myeloma Awareness Week, Laurenne was given use of Cue Music Production’s recording studio at Premier Mill in Darwen, to record Bright Eyes, a favourite of her father’s which took on more resonance during the final weeks of his life.

Laurenne, who hopes to set up a music school in the area, said: “My dad always had a guitar around at home and could pick up any song once he heard it.

“He would play Bright Eyes and I would sing along, ever since I was a little girl.

“When he was ill the words took on more meaning about life fading away.

“My dad’s best friend from the age of eight, Pete Reidy, who once played in a Shadows covers band with him, came into the recording studio and played guitar and the guys at Cue Music played bass and drums and gave the studio time for free.

“When I heard it back I couldn’t believe the quality and the strength of Pete’s arrangement of the song.”

Charles also left wife Gill, 64 and Laurenne’s daughter Amelia, who is three.

Laurenne, a former Westholme pupil, from Baron Street, Darwen has set up a fundraising page to support Myeloma UK: justgiving.com/fundraising/LaurenneClaireChapman and posted the song on YouTube to promote the cause.