I am very surprised and saddened to hear of the passing of my friend Terry Black. Terry, a native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, was the first artist to be signed by Lou Adler to his brand new label in the early 1960s. His first hit single was Unless You Care, a top seller in both Canada and the United States. I was very pleased to have Terry as a guest on my show in the studio several years back and we talked about his solo career, then his days in the fantastic group Dr. Music. That group had many talented members including Doug Riley, Brian Russell, Brenda Russell, Steve Kennedy, Terry Black and Laurel Ward. They scored a Top Ten hit in Canada with Sun Goes By. After Dr. Music, Terry Black and Laurel Ward teamed up to record several singles together including the popular Goin' Down (On The Road To L.A.) in 1972.
Thanks for the great interview and visit, Terry, and of course the music.
Michael
Here's the official news story:
1960's Canadian singing sensation, Terry Black, dies at age 62
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A Canadian singing sensation who burst onto the scene in the 1960's at the age of 15 with the hit single "Unless You Care" has died.
Terry Black, originally from North Vancouver, was 62 when he passed away Saturday in Kamloops, B.C., a year after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
"Unless You Care" became a Canadian hit in late 1964 and went on to become a top seller in the United States, making Black one of the first Canadians to have a hit record in the U.S.
The record helped Black win the male vocalist of the year category at the Maple Music Awards, the forerunner of the Junos.
He had other hit records, but his solo career ended in 1970 when he married Laurel Ward and the two became a duo act, releasing several singles in the 1970's.
Veteran B.C. disc jockey Red Robinson says Black had a wonderful sense of humour and was shy but the shyness disappeared once he got on stage.
Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
