Gerrard offered backup vocals for such stars as Elton John, Mavis Staples, Bette Midler and Neil Diamond.
Donny Gerrard, who scored a success with “Wildflower” because the lead vocalist for the group Skylark, has died. He was 75.
Gerrard died Thursday and had been underneath hospice care amid a battle with most cancers, publicist Invoice Carpenter advised The Hollywood Reporter. “Our expensive brother Donny handed away early this morning at dwelling, peacefully, surrounded by household,” stated Adam Ayers from Crimson Mild Administration in an announcement launched Thursday.
Born in Vancouver, Canada, on March 19, 1946, Gerrard was the singer for the early Nineteen Seventies band Skylark, which counted producer David Foster as a keyboardist. Their 1972 breakout ballad “Wildflower” peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Scorching 100 and was later sampled on Jamie Foxx’s 2005 platinum-certified hit “Unpredictable.”
By 1975, Skylark had break up up, and Gerrard targeted on a solo profession. He signed with Elton John’s Rocket Report Firm and dropped the one “(Child) Don’t Let It Mess Your Thoughts,” along with offering background vocals on John’s 1975 album Captain Improbable and the Brown Grime Cowboy.
Quickly after, Gerrard signed with Grasping Data, and in 1976, he recorded his self-titled debut album, that includes “Phrases (Are Unattainable),” which grew to become his highest-charting solo monitor.
He went on to offer session vocals on recordings for quite a few top-tier ’80s artists, together with Bette Midler, Neil Diamond, Bob Seger, Linda Ronstadt, B.B. King and Dusty Springfield.
Gerrard would group up once more with Foster on 1985 charity single “Tears Are Not Sufficient,” that includes a protracted listing of famend vocalists. Gerrard and Bryan Adams carried out a line as a duet for the tune that Foster co-wrote and co-produced and which was included on the Quincy Jones-produced album We Are the World.
Extra not too long ago, Gerrard launched The Romantic, a 2000 album of pop requirements, and carried out vocals on Mavis Staples’ Grammy-winning 2010 album You Are Not Alone.
He's survived by spouse Myra, sons Cooper Gerrard and Traie Payne, sisters Dale Peck and Yvonne Gerrard and brother Kenny Gerrard.