The family of Gene McDaniels has issued a statement following the death of the singer on Saturday.
The statement reads, “Gene McDaniels, adored father, adoring husband and incredible friend passed gently into the sweet forever on July 29, 2011 at his home on the Maine coast that he loved so much. Gene is music: lyrical, complex, joyful, perceptive, political, romantic, multifaceted, melodious and magnificent. He is a man of great passion, countless musical personalities, an activist and a spiritualist, a patriot and a rebel, the singer and the song. He loved deeply and is deeply loved. Gene’s continuing body of work and ongoing projects will be brought forth over time. Please enjoy the ever-unfolding artistry and vision of this prolific artist, unique spirit, and remarkable man. As Gene says, stop by and visit sometime”.
Eugene McDaniels was born on February 12, 1935. He had his first hit ‘A Hundred Pounds Of Clay’ in 1961. It reached no. 3 on the American chart. The hits followed. ‘Tower of Strength’ was no. 5 in 1961, ‘Chip Chip’ no. 10 in 1962 and ‘Point Of No Return’ no. 21 in 1962.
Gene also wrote the no. 1 Roberta Flack hit ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’. George Benson covered it in 1983 and Shirley Bassey released her version in 1975.
He also wrote ‘Compared To What’, a massive jazz protest hit for Les McCann in the 70s.
