IDENTIFIED: Several Rockhampton people have named the blind busker to be Jim Williams. John Cole (pictured), had been trying to find out the man’s name for many years.

IDENTIFIED: Several Rockhampton people have named the blind busker to be Jim Williams. John Cole (pictured), had been trying to find out the man’s name for many years. Chris Ison Rokcbusker

SAID to be a real gentleman and talented musician, The Morning Bulletin readers identified the blind accordion busker from Saturday's edition as Jim Williams.

Callers, including Kerod Lindley, well-educated on the instrument, said they could recall the man playing in East Street for many years.

"I think he used to play a 2 Row Hohner button Accordion, not a piano accordion," Kerod said.

"I think he was even there during the 1960s but I certainly remember that name.

"I'm not sure if he was completely blind, though, because he'd hear the tinkle of the coins and he'd look over at his tin."

The call to name the mystery busker of the 1950s came from reader John Cole who often read the From the Vault section.

John had been trying to find out who the man was for five years.

Although there were different stories passed around about the busker, one thing each caller said was that he was a talented musician.

Rockhampton woman Dawn Gorle said he lived in Wandal and she would speak to him now and then when he would play in East Street.

"I was a community health nurse; he had a son somewhere and a lady called Stella," Dawn said.

"They would play at home together. She would play the piano. But he would always be sitting outside of Withers in East Street. He'd lay day and night especially around Christmas time."

Kerry Pole said he was certain his name was Jim Williams.

"I definitely do know because my sister married his son," Kerry said. "I was just talking to his son. I was a very little boy when I heard him but apparently he was a real gentleman."

But Dawn Kilby thought the busker's name was Cheers.