Wayne Fontana, R.I.P.

Wayne Fontana, the former singer of the 1960's British pop group The Mindbenders, passed away yesterday of cancer. He was 74.

Fontana's time at the top of the charts was brief but glorious. In 1964, The Mindbenders had a breakthrough hit in the U.K. with a cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Um Um Um Um Um Um" which had been hit for Major Lance.

In 1965, The Mindbenders would have a transatlantic hit with "The Game of Love" which would reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Charts for two weeks in April. 

But later that year, Fontana inexplicably quit the group. The Mindbenders went on without him and had a hit in 1966 with "Groovy Kind of Love".

Fontana embarked upon a solo career. But outside of "Pamela, Pamela" which was a top five hit in Australia and a top 20 hit in the U.K., Fontana's career fizzled. A dependence on alcohol did not help.

But when "The Game of Love" appeared prominently in the Robin Williams' 1987 hit movie Good Morning Vietnam there was renewed interest in the song and in Fontana who began to perform on the oldies circuit. 

In recent years, Fontana had legal troubles such as when he poured gasoline over a bailiff's car in 2007. In a subsequent court appearance, Fontana came dressed as Lady Justice complete with sword and scales. Fontana would be sentenced to nearly a year in jail, but would be released due to time served.

As of 2017, Fontana had been actively touring Europe and Australia. R.I.P.