The legendary frontman Terry Hall has passed away, according to The Specials.
The Ska Icons announced on social media that the iconic vocalist has passed away at the age of 63. One of the greatest singers, songwriters, and lyricists this nation has ever produced. They praised him as “a beautiful friend, brother.
Prior to his musical breakthrough, Hall was born in Coventry on March 19, 1959. And prior to his musical breakthrough, he had a turbulent life. As NME detailed Terry in 2019. A Paedophile ring kidnapped Terry Hall in France when he was 12 years old in 1971. And ordeal caused him addicted to valium.
He dropped out of school by age 15, working odd jobs like bricklaying and hairdressing. Before he became involved in Coventry’s music scene towards the end of the 70s.
After a brief spell with the neighborhood punk band squad. Hall replaced Tim Strickland as the singer of Coventry Automatics in 1997. Soon after, the group changed its name to The Specials, and two years later in 1979. They scored their first Top 10 success with “gangsters,” Prince Buster’s interpretation of “AI Capone.”
The Specials’ published their self-titled first album in October, and ‘More Specials,’ the album that followed it released just 11 months later in September 1980.
Hall left The Specials in 1981, but the group reassembled in 2008 with him and other ex-members like guitarist Roddy Radiation and drummer John Bradbury. Their much-anticipated reunion album, “Encore,” another member of the band released in 2019. Hall performed with groups like Fun Boy Three, The Colorfield, Vegas, and others before reuniting with The Specials.
He also worked with artists like Lightning Seeds, Sinead O’Connor, the Dub Pistols, Gorillaz, Damon Albarn, D12, Tricky, and Lily Allen while releasing two solo albums, “Home” in 1994 and “Laugh” in 1997.
Hall continued to perform with The Specials throughout this year; on August 20, they played their final gig together at Escot Park in Dvon. The Compilation “Protest Songs 1924-2012,” band released last September and it was their final album.
In the hour since Hall’s passing, his employees have gone in large numbers to his memorial. One of them is his old bandmate with the Specials, Neville Staple, who tweeted: “I was very grieved to learn about Terry Hall’s passing on Sunday. The Christine’s Sugary staple called us.