Terry Hall, the British singer and lead vocalist of the late 1970s ska band The Specials, has died, band members announced in a statement on social media. He was 63.
Hall died “after a brief illness,” according to The Specials. Band members remembered him as “our beautiful friend, brother and one of the most brilliant singers, songwriters and lyricists this country has ever produced.”
“Terry was a wonderful husband and father and one of the kindest, funniest, and most genuine of souls,” the group said. “His music and his performances encapsulated the very essence of life… the joy, the pain, the humour, the fight for justice, but mostly the love.”
Terry was a wonderful husband and father and one of the kindest, funniest, and most genuine of souls. His music and his performances encapsulated the very essence of life… the joy, the pain, the humour, the fight for justice, but mostly the love. (2/4)
— The Specials (@thespecials) December 19, 2022
We would ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy at this very sad time.🖤 (4/4)
— The Specials (@thespecials) December 19, 2022
The Specials formed in Coventry, England, in the late 1970s and found success with songs including 1979′s “Gangsters” and “A Message to You Rudy,” and 1981′s “Ghost Town.”
Hall left the band in 1981 to form Fun Boy Three, and later, the Colourfield and Vegas, according to BBC News. In 1994, he launched a solo career, the news station reported.
Hall reunited with The Specials in 2008 and sang for the band’s eighth studio album, “Encore,” in 2019, according to The Associated Press.
In 1981, Hall co-wrote The Go-Go’s debut single, “Our Lips Are Sealed,” the AP reported. The song was also recorded by Hall’s Fun Boy Three.
In a statement on Twitter, Go-Go’s guitarist Jane Wiedlin remembered Hall as “a lovely, sensitive, talented and unique person.”
“Our extremely brief romance resulted in the song Our Lips Are Sealed, which will forever tie us together in music history,” she wrote. “Terrible news to hear this.”
Gutted to hear of the passing of #terryhall. He was a lovely, sensitive, talented and unique person. Our extremely brief romance resulted in the song Our Lips Are Sealed, which will forever tie us together in music history. Terrible news to hear this. 😢 pic.twitter.com/Fxxqr0p01T
— Jane Wiedlin (@janewiedlin) December 19, 2022
Other friends and fans also took to social media to remember Hall.
Sad to receive the news of Terry Hall’s passing last night from Lynval Golding. Terry’s voice was the perfect instrument for the true and necessary songs on “The Specials”. That honesty is heard in so many of his songs in joy and sorrow. My condolences to his family and friends.
— Elvis Costello (@ElvisCostello) December 20, 2022
Very sad to hear about Terry Hall! Absolutely loved him as an artist. Sad day! #thespecials
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) December 19, 2022
We are very sad to hear of the passing of Terry Hall the lead singer of @thespecials
— UB40 (@UB40OFFICIAL) December 20, 2022
Another one gone too soon!
RIP Terry#terryhall #rip pic.twitter.com/P0n9InMVpu
Hall is survived by his wife, Lindy Heymann; and his children, Leo and Felix Hall, according to CNN.
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