Terry Hallsinger of the British group The Specialshas died at the age of 63, the ska group, founded in the 1970s and which released an album of covers of protest songs last year, announced Monday.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing, after a brief illness, of Terry, our beautiful friend, brother, and one of the most brilliant singer, songwriters, and lyricists this country has ever produced,” the band announced on social media.
“His music and his performances capture the very essence of life… joy, pain, humor, the fight for justice, but above all love,” added the group, which extolled his legacy of “extraordinary music and profound humanity”.
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. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/qJHsI1oTwp
— The Specials (@thespecials)
December 19, 2022
Born in 1959 in Coventry (western England), Hall became known with The Specials in the late 1970s.
In 1980, his signature track “Ghost Town” topped the UK charts for several weeks.
Depressed, Hall revealed in a song that he had been the victim of pedophilia during a school trip to France.
He had other musical experiences outside of The Specials, before the band reformed and performed in various formats.
Last year, the group of veterans of the music scene released a disc of new versions of protest songs.
During his career, Hall collaborated with artists such as rapper tricky, Gorillaz Y lilly allen.
