NEW ORLEANS " 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.

R.I.P.

What a great voice he had. I never really 'got' Big Star but "The Letter" by the Box Tops is among my all time favourites. There used to be two youtube clips of this, both were identical except in one they had been overdubbed by the record and on the second they were playing it live, the vocals on the live one were fantastic.

What a great voice he had. I never really 'got' Big Star but "The Letter" by the Box Tops is among my all time favourites. There used to be two youtube clips of this, both were identical except in one they had been overdubbed by the record and on the second they were playing it live, the vocals on the live one were fantastic.

Top tune Pete

RIP

OK, that's my soundtrack for the Prestatyn drive sorted then. The Box Tops blasting all the way up the M6 is today's plan.

RIP Alex.

Ian D

What a great voice he had. I never really 'got' Big Star but "The Letter" by the Box Tops is among my all time favourites. There used to be two youtube clips of this, both were identical except in one they had been overdubbed by the record and on the second they were playing it live, the vocals on the live one were fantastic.

As you state Pete , a great voice : one I always thought to be on a par with that of John Fogarty .

Malc Burton

More sad news.

Alex had a great voice.

I always loved 'Cry Like A Baby' and 'Fields Of Clover' in particular.

Neon Rainbow and Soul Deep for me. RIP

big star were recently in the uk for a one off gig as well. R. I. P ALEX CHILTON

dave

iTS nice Mike has put this up-supremly talented guy-big star influenced so many top bands over the years,did not know there were in the uk -would of tried hard to get to that.

BAZ A

Baz A.

Thanks for putting this up Pete - I love these sixties clips - the music was hip as f**K but no spoon feeding the audience, no false histrionics, it must of been great!

I really enjoyed watching that clip, although it makes me sad to think that we haven't really progressed - despite all our technology etc.

The arts of songwriting, arrangement and production have almost been lost. And therefore we're increasingly forced to live in the past as far as music is concerned.

The older this stuff gets, the better it sounds.

I really enjoyed watching that clip, although it makes me sad to think that we haven't really progressed - despite all our technology etc.

The arts of songwriting, arrangement and production have almost been lost. And therefore we're increasingly forced to live in the past as far as music is concerned.

The older this stuff gets, the better it sounds.

i agree.

the thing that kills me about these clips from the 60s is the crowd. i am sure that these kids have no idea how lucky they are to see these performances... but do you see the slack jawed half-wit in the video!? (the kid drooling on himself in a coma at time :17 and again at :55)

its always the way! jackie wilson or gene chandler performing something fierce and a crowd of pimply faced white teens barely able to summon the enthusiasm for lackluster (and off time) finger-snapping? aaaagh!!

Edited March 21, 201015 yr by ljblanken

i agree.

the thing that kills me about these clips from the 60s is the crowd. i am sure that these kids have no idea how lucky they are to see these performances... but do you see the slack jawed half-wit in the video!? (the kid drooling on himself in a coma at time :17 and again at :55)

its always the way! jackie wilson or gene chandler performing something fierce and a crowd of pimply faced white teens barely able to summon the enthusiasm for lackluster (and off time) finger-snapping? aaaagh!!

My apologies if this has been mentioned previously in respect of Alex Chilton , But I did not realise he was only 16 when he recorded " The Letter " .

Malc Burton

Edited March 21, 201015 yr by Malc Burton

My apologies if this has been mentioned previously in respect of Alex Chilton , But I did not realise he was only 16 when he recorded " The Letter " .

Malc Burton

Quite right Malc - when I read these Obituaries I sure I'm catching them up