Tuesday, June 7, 2022

R.I.P. Jim Seals of Seals & Crofts

Jim Seals, one half of the 1970's pop duo Seals & Crofts, passed away yesterday. No cause of death has been released. However, he did suffer a stroke in 2017. Some accounts state Seals was 79 while others say 80.

A native of Texas, Seals played saxophone, guitar and violin. Seals and his childhood friend Dash Crofts would become members of The Champs best known for its instrumental hit "Tequila" while still teenagers. Seals and Crofts would also briefly collaborate with Glen Campbell in the band Glen Campbell and The GCs. 

While both men were members of a band called The Dawnbreakers they were introduced to the Baha'i faith. The two struck out on their own in 1969 taking a decidedly softer, more introspective approach to music. Seals and Crofts would attain international stardom in 1972 when the title track of their fourth album Summer Breeze became a breakout hit. They would be equally successful the following year with the title track of their fifth album Diamond Girl. Other hits include "We May Never Pass This Way Again", "Closer to You" and, my personal favorite, "Hummingbird".

The duo broke up in 1980. They would reunite briefly for some concerts in 1991 and again in 2004 when they released their final album Traces. Seals would also collaborate with his younger brother Dan Seals who had success in a duo of his own called England Dan and John Ford Coley. During the 2000's, Seals and Seals would occasionally tour before the younger Seals was diagnosed with lymphoma which would take his life in 2009 at the age of 61. And now Jim Seals has flown away too.

I leave you with Seals and Crofts playing some music during a 1974 TV appearance with Geraldo Rivera on Good Night America in which they also discuss their Baha'i faith. R.I.P.

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