True New Englander

When Delp first met his Boston bandmates, he was earning his living by making parts for Mr. Coffee machines at Hot-Watt in Danvers.

The group was discovered by a record promotions executive who heard the song "More Than a Feeling" through the walls of his office, and rushed next door to learn more about it. A cousin of the band's guitarist had been playing the tape.

Before long, the group had a deal with Epic records, and recounted their rags-to-riches story in their hit song, "Rock and Roll Band."

People in his hometown are still proud of a local boy who made good.

"Anybody who grew up in Danvers knew who he was," Danvers teacher Lisa Dean recently said. "When he hit it big in '76 and ended up being the lead singer of Boston, of course everybody in the world knew who he was."

Boston's first album, released in 1976, remains the No. 1 selling debut album ever in the United States. The band still gets major airtime on classic rock radio stations.

But Delp's time in the upper echelons of the rock music business wasn't enough to get him to stray from his New England roots. One friend called him the "anti-rock star" because he'd spend so much time playing for charities and signing autographs for fans.

Several years ago Delp bought his home in the small New Hampshire town of Atkinson, just over the state line from Haverhill.

No one answered the door at his home last night.

Neighbors said he lived there with his fiance, Pam Sullivan, whom he had proposed to over Christmas and planned to marry this summer. He had two children from a previous marriage, including a teenage son who lives in California and who neighbors sometimes saw during summertime visits.

Good neighbor

Neighbors described ebony porn Delp as friendly and kind, often helping his neighbors shovel snow or dropping by to say "hello" if he saw them out on their front lawns.

Across the street from the Delp home, 14-year-old Amanda Harty has pictures of her and Delp from one of the many Beatlejuice shows she has attended, the last one at the Portsmouth Music Hall just three weeks ago. But Harty also enjoyed Boston's music, especially since her name is the same as one of their most famous songs.

Harty said she was impressed with how normal Delp was. And how kind - he had once taken the time to write her a note, saying "Hope you feel better," when she was sick.

"You'd think a lead singer from a big band would be snobby," Harty said. "He was just all around a good person."

Alma Harty, Amanda's grandmother, got teary-eyed while talking about Delp.

"A sweet, sweet guy," she said. "He was so kind."

Next door, Ken Silva said he was equally upset about losing such a good neighbor.

"I'm devastated," he said. "He was a great guy."

Neighbors said Delp was in "great shape," and gave them no indication of having any problems which might have led to his death. He didn't smoke and had been a vegetarian for nearly four decades.

Delp's body was found by his fiance. Police received the call for help at 1:20 p.m.

Atkinson Police Lt. William Baldwin said in a statement the death was "untimely," but that there was no indication of foul play.

The cause of his death remained under investigation by the Atkinson police and the New Hampshire medical examiner's office. Police said an incident report will not be available until Monday.

Delp apparently was alone at the time of his death, Baldwin said.
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