ONE hundred saxophonists will play the songs of James Brown and The Specials at a memorial concert for a local musician who died this week.

Simon D’souza, 50, helped arrange the fundraiser which will take place outside Brighton’s Unitarian Church in New Road on Sunday.

However, the concert turned into a memorial event after Mr D’souza, from Rodmell, died of a brain tumour on Monday morning.

Friend and fellow musician, Beccy Rork, who helped organise the event, said the weekend would be emotional for all involved.

She added: “It was always going to be an emotional event but it will be even more so now.

“He was an incredibly popular man and we are expecting plenty of people to be there along with members of his family and hopefully his wife.”

Mr D’souza, who moved from his native London to Brighton around the turn of the century, was a huge figure in the Sussex music scene.

Not only did he teach, write and perform, he also set up projects including Audio Active which still runs in Brighton and Hove.

In August 2012 he was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour and was told by doctors he did not have long to live.

Refusing to let the horrendous news beat him, he worked harder than ever and set about writing new music and performing benefit gigs with money raised going to the Brain Tumour Charity.

Mrs Rork said: “Despite the terrible prognosis he kept on performing and writing. He even produced new music for a video game and brought out an album.

“He was a thoughtful, kind-spirited, and generous man who always thought about others.”

He met with Mrs Rork and fellow musician Mark Bassey in January this year and told of his intention to put on a show at this year’s Brighton Fringe.

The concert chosen will be a re-run of their 2004 event 100 Saxophones – which will see pieces from the likes of James Brown and The Specials.

Mr D’souza had intended to be at the concert.

The Fringe event, which will run between 2pm and 3.30pm, is free to attend and there will be collection buckets for the Brain Tumour Charity.

To donate via Mr D’souza’s Just Giving page visit: www.justgiving. com/100saxophonesRidesAgain.