Sadly, the great singer/songwriter & guitarist/producer Alex Chilton died of an apparent heart attack yesterday (March 17) in New Orleans at age 59. He achieved fame as a teenaged singer with blue-eyed soul group the Box Tops, whose enduring hits include "The Letter" (1967), "Cry Like a Baby" (1968 - in Nashville last month I met the drummer who played on that session at the legendary American Sound Studio in Memphis, Gene Chrisman) & "Soul Deep" (1969).
The son of a jazz musician, Chilton was born in Memphis, Tennessee, 3 days after Christmas 1950. His early 1970s power-pop, British Invasion-influenced band Big Star influenced many subsequent bands, including REM & The Replacements. Among Chilton's many solo & side projects over the years was the post-punk band Tav Falco's Panther Burns, which he co-founded in 1979 in order to deconstruct blues, country & rockabilly styles. He also produced records by punk rockers The Cramps, among other artists. He received the most royalties for "In the Street," a Big Star track that was used as the theme song for the TV program That 70s Show. "September Gurls" from Big Star's second l.p., Radio City (1974), was covered by both The Searchers & The Bangles.
I met Alex Chilton in 2001 at Club Tavern in Middleton, Wisconsin (where I am now housesitting for friends). He graciously gave me an autograph & chatted amiably with fans during set breaks. He was a true Southern gentleman with an artist's heart & mind. Chilton was scheduled to play with a new lineup of Big Star at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin (Texas) this weekend. He is survived by his wife Laura, son Timothy & sister Cecilia. He will be missed by fans all over the world.
In 1987 the legendary Minneapolis band The Replacements recorded a superb tribute song about him. Here are some of the lyrics to "Alex Chilton" (written by Paul Westerberg; from the Replacements' Pleased to Meet Me album):
"Children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round
They sing 'I'm in love. What's that song?
I'm in love with that song.' . . .
I never travel far, without a little Big Star."
Rest in peace, Alex & thanks for all the music.
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