Singer and guitarist Alex Chilton, known for his influential work with bands the Box Tops and Big Star, died Wednesday. He was 59.
Chilton died at a hospital in New Orleans after experiencing what appeared to be heart problems, said his long time friend John Fry.
As the teenage singer for the pop-soul outfit the Box Tops, Chilton topped the charts with the band’s song “The Letter” in 1967. Their other hits were “Soul Deep” and “Cry Like a Baby.”
His work with Big Star had less mainstream success but made him a cult hero to other musicians, as evidenced by the title of the 1987 Replacements song, “Alex Chilton.” Big Star’s three 1970s LPs all earned spots on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Chilton said in a 1987 interview with The Associated Press that didn’t mind flying under the radar.
Chilton had been scheduled to perform with Big Star on Saturday at the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas.
Here’s a clip of Big Star performing “Thirteen”, live in San Francisco in 2007.
Related posts:
