Black Country rock promoter Maurice Jones, who played a major role in organising the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in 1985, has died aged 64.

Maurice, whose first “office” was the public phone box at John Thompson’s Bilston works, where he was an apprentice, rose to become head of Walsall-based MCP – Midland Concert Promotions.

He died yesterday afternoon after a long battle with cancer, leaving widow Diane and daughters Kristy and Nicola.

Born in Wednesbury, Maurice started off managing The ’N Betweens, who later became Slade, and became a full-time agent aged 19 by joining Wolverhampton’s Astra Agency.

He booked top names including Yes and Led Zeppelin on a weekly basis for Wolverhampton’s Club Lafayette, and took personal charge of several bands, including Argent, before leaving to form MCP.

Starting the Black Country Night Out show, he built up a business which handled rock stars from Britain, the US and Europe.

He retired a few years ago.

Fellow promoter Tony Perry, his business partner during the 1960s and 1970s, today paid tribute. “He was very well respected in the business,” he said.