RIP, Scott.
Hugely influential singer Scott Walker has died at the age of 76.
His death was confirmed by record label 4AD – who hailed him as “a solo artist, producer and composer of uncompromising originality.”
“From teen idol to cultural icon, Scott leaves to future generations a legacy of extraordinary music; a brilliant lyricist with a haunting singing voice, he has been one of the most revered innovators at the sharp end of creative music, whose influence on many artists has been freely acknowledged,” the label confirmed in a statement.
“The scope and dynamism of his vision have added dimension to both film and dance, and he has stunned audiences with music whose composition transcends genre, and whose sheer originality defies pigeonholing.”
Born in Hamilton, Ohio in 1943 as Noel Scott Engel, he became Scott Walker after forming the Walker Brothers in 1964 alongside John Maus, who had been known as John Walker since his teens. The pair were joined by drummer Gary Leeds, who too became known as Gary Walker.
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Scott Walker. Scott was 76 years old and is survived by his daughter, Lee, his granddaughter, Emmi-Lee, and his partner Beverly: https://t.co/awaFXWOkja pic.twitter.com/nd6MYVmWaO
— 4AD (@4AD_Official) March 25, 2019
But after songs such as ‘The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore’ catapulted the group to huge success in the mid ’60s, Scott began experimenting with his own increasingly experimental solo material – which led to the release of debut album ‘Scott’ in 1967, only a year before their initial split.
It marked the sound of a true original, and led Walker down a path that would see him hailed as an avant-garde icon – and a huge influence on the likes of Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, Jarvis Cocker, The Divine Comedy and many more.
Paying tribute on Twitter, Thom Yorke wrote: “So very sad to hear that Scott Walker has passed away, he was a huge influence on Radiohead and myself, showing me how i could use my voice and words. Met him once at Meltdown, such a kind gentle outsider. He will be very missed.”
Other tributes came from
During his solo career, he released 18 records – a combination of his own albums and collaborations for an eclectic array of soundtracks. His final effort came on the score of ‘Vox Lux’, which released in 2018.
