Craig Reeves, 72, died on Friday. He had cancer.
Reeves was co-founder of Dunedin band the Oxo Cubans, which he and Doug Wright started in 1993.
Mr Wright said Mr Reeves’ death was a big loss for the Dunedin music scene.
Mr Reeves had played bass for the band since its inception.
It was Reeves’ idea to create the band, before it was called the Oxo Cubans, and they had played a regular Tuesday night spot at the Albert Arms pub (now The Bog), Mr Wright said.
The band eventually got tired of the gig, but Mr Reeves wanted to continue so he pulled in a few more people and created the Oxo Cubans.
"As well as being a very good musician, he was the person who could do all the organising and talk people into doing things they really didn’t want to do.
"He had that entrepreneurial flair and also had the vision of what something could be."
Mr Reeves was always the centrepiece of the band, he said.
Oxo Cubans drummer Marcel Rodeka said Mr Reeves had a heart of gold and would be remembered for that among other things.
"That’s a loss of a friend, first and foremost.
"Musically, he’s been my other half of the Oxo Cubans rhythm section for nearly 24 years."
Mr Rodeka had been the drummer of the band since 2002 and the two of them had "fit like a glove", Mr Rodeka said.
"We’re all feeling it because we’ve been working together for so long."
He described Mr Reeves’ devotion to the music, utter professionalism, will to see others succeed and friendship as his legacy.
Mr Reeves and the Oxo Cubans members always felt strongly about giving up-and-coming artists the same opportunity that they had,
allowing artists to join them on bigger shows and bigger stages to get experience, Mr Rodeka said.
"Those people have worked with him musically on stages, different concerts, different events.
"Their time was obviously shorter with him, but they all say the same thing: that he was amazing to work with, incredibly encouraging and certainly incredibly encouraging of up-and-coming artists."
A social media post advising people of his death led to an outpouring of sorrow and affection.
"To explain what Craig has done in support of fellow musicians, up-and-coming artists and the impact he has had in the music industry throughout his life, both here, Australia and overseas, can’t be fully acknowledged here," the post said.
The post had shown "an amazing outpouring of love and affection and admiration for Craig", Mr Rodeka said.
A tribute will be held for Mr Reeves next year.
