Photo Credit: Robman94 / CC by 3.0
English ska band the Specials has announced that lead singer Terry Hall has passed away. He was 63.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing, following a brief illness, of Terry, our beautiful friend, brother and one of the most brilliant singers, songwriters and lyricists this country has ever produced,” the band’s official Twitter statement begins.
“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 humor, the fight for justice, but mostly love.”
“He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him and leaves behind the gift of his remarkable music and profound humanity. Terry often left the stage at the end of The Specials’ life-affirming shows with three words, ‘Love Love Love.’ We would ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy at this very sad time.” Terry Hall is survived by his wife and sons.
The Specials formed in 1977 under the name The Automatics. Terry Hall joined the group in 1979 after replacing the former vocalist Tim Strickland. They supported the Clash live on tour, with their singles like “Ghost Town” bringing the band success in the early ’80s. The band split up in 1981 and Hall formed Fun Boy Three with former bandmates Lynval Golding and Neville Staple.
Hall didn’t participate in the Specials reunion tour in the ’90s, but he did participate in the 30th-anniversary tour in 2009. The Specials released a studio album called Encore in 2019, which hit the #1 spot on the UK Albums chart. It was the highest-charting album ever released by the group.
Terry Hall was born on March 19, 1959 in Coventry, England and spent much of his childhood there. He became an active member of the Coventry music scene in the late 1970s, playing in a local punk band called Squad.