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Canadian singer-songwriter David Clayton-Thomas, who rose to prominence on American radio in the late 1960s and early 70s as the lead singer of bass-driven group 'Blood, Sweat & Tears', has passed away.
According to Variety, the 84-year-old singer died peacefully at a Toronto hospital on Wednesday evening, as confirmed by his publicist. Clayton-Thomas famously wrote 'Spinning Wheel', the group's most well-known original composition, which even reached No 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. 'When I Die' and the powerful ballad 'You've Made Me So Very Happy' also reached No 2, voiced by the late singer. The group even won two Grammys in 1970, including Best Album. Even though the band's progress faded in the 70s, Clayton-Thomas continued to work over the decades, both solo and as a member of the band's later incarnations. Born as David Henry Thomsett on September 13, 1941, in Surrey, England, during the height of World War II, to a Canadian soldier and an English music student. Clayton-Thomas was mentored by rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins, who also united the musicians who became the Band, long before he was fronting his own bands. In 1966, he wrote and recorded an anti-war anthem, 'Brainwashed', that was a major hit in Canada. Besides his association with the band, the late singer also pursued a solo career over the decades, releasing nearly a dozen albums. He even hosted his own series on Canada's CBC television network. Clayton-Thomas was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, receiving a special Juno Award for his contributions to Canadian music. He published a memoir, 'Blood, Sweat and Tears' in 2010. David Clayton-Thomas was survived by his daughters, Ashleigh Clayton-Thomas and Christine Graham. As shared by his representative, a memorial concert will be held at a later date. (ANI)
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