British singer-songwriter Linda Lewis has passed away at the age of 72. Her family confirmed the news on Wednesday night, with her sister Dee Lewis Clay sharing the news on social media. Known for her impressive five-octave vocal range, Lewis enjoyed a long and successful career spanning over four decades. She achieved solo success in the 1970s and also provided backing vocals for iconic artists such as David Bowie and Rod Stewart.
Lewis was born Linda Ann Fredericks in West Ham in 1950, attending stage school and dabbling in acting before signing to Polydor. She adopted Lewis as her surname as a tribute to singer Barbara Lewis. A self-taught guitarist and keyboard player, Lewis appeared at the first Glastonbury festival in 1970 and had four top-40 hits throughout the next decade. Her biggest hit was a cover of the 1963 song “It’s In His Kiss” which reached No. 6 in the UK charts in 1975.
She lived in a commune in Hampstead with a group of artists and musicians, where she was often visited by Yusuf Islam (then known as Cat Stevens), as well as Marc Bolan and Elton John. She toured with Islam and dated him on and off for several years.
Lewis married fellow musician Jim Cregan in 1977, but they divorced three years later. She continued to provide backing vocals for many iconic artists including Bowie, Stewart, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Rick Wakeman, Joan Armatrading, and Jamiroquai.
Lewis’ song “Old Smokey” was sampled by rapper Common in his 2005 hit “Go!”, which was produced by Kanye West. She also collaborated with Basement Jaxx on the track “Close Your Eyes”. Her last track, “Earthling,” a collaboration with UK band the Paracosmos, was released in March this year.
Throughout her life, Linda Lewis continued to perform and make music, and in her memoirs, she reflected on her rich and fulfilling life. She was married to music agent Neil Warnock from 2004 until her passing. Her legacy as a talented musician and vocalist will be remembered and cherished by many.
