Peter William Ham, known as Pete Ham, was a Welsh musician and songwriter born on April 27, 1947, in Swansea, Wales. He was the youngest child of William and Catherine Ham. Pete showed an early interest in music, playing harmonica during his school days and later taking up the guitar. Encouraged by his brother John, a jazz trumpeter, Pete became involved in the Swansea rock music scene.

In 1961, he formed a band called The Panthers, which eventually evolved into The Iveys by 1965. The Iveys caught the attention of The Beatles' personal assistant, Mal Evans, and were signed to Apple Records in 1968. The band changed their name to Badfinger and achieved international success with hits like "Come and Get It," "No Matter What," "Day After Day," and "Baby Blue." Pete Ham co-wrote the song "Without You," which became a worldwide hit for Harry Nilsson and later for Mariah Carey.

Despite their success, Badfinger faced financial difficulties due to mismanagement, leading to Ham's tragic death by suicide on April 24, 1975, in Woking, Surrey, England, just days before his 28th birthday. His legacy endures through his contributions to music, including the timeless classic "Without You."