Pete Dello, the singer-songwriter hailed as 'pop's quiet genius' and best known for his work with the 1960s band Honeybus, has died at the age of 83. The musician passed away in London on 21 February, with the news confirmed via an obituary.
Born in Oxford, Dello began his musical career in the 1950s but rose to prominence in the mid-1960s with Honeybus. He wrote the group's biggest hit, I Can't Let Maggie Go, which reached the UK Top 10 and became a Top 20 success worldwide. Dello left the band before they embarked on their touring schedule and later released a solo album, Into Your Ears, in 1971.
After stepping away from the music industry in the 1970s, Dello worked in music education. His song I Can't Let Maggie Go enjoyed a resurgence in popularity when it was used in a 1970s television advertisement for Nimble bread, providing him with ongoing royalties.
Tributes have poured in on social media, with one fan writing: 'One of my true songwriting influences and musical heroes has passed after a sudden illness.' Record label Guerssen said: 'Farewell Pete Dello. What a fantastic songwriter and musician. It was a privilege working with you all these years.' Another admirer simply called him 'pop's quiet genius.'
In October 2025, the compilation Recital and More: The Pete Dello Years was released as part of The Honeybus Reappraisal Series, featuring 26 tracks celebrating his legacy.
