The Specials have announced the passing of lead singer Terry Hall, one of the founding members of the iconic British two-tone group. The news arrived via instagram on The Specials' official account. It read: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing, following a brief illness, of Terry, our beautiful friend, brother and one of the most brilliant singers, songwriters and lyricists this country has ever produced.
"Terry was a wonderful husband and father and one of the kindest, funniest, and most genuine of souls. His music and his performances encapsulated the very essence of life… the joy, the pain, the humour, the fight for justice, but mostly the love. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him and leaves behind the gift of his remarkable music and profound humanity. Terry often left the stage at the end of The Specials’ life-affirming shows with three words…'Love Love Love.'" The post ended by asking for respect for the family's privacy "at this very sad time."
The Specials formed in Coventry in 1977 and released their self-titled debut in 1979. Produced by Elvis Costello, the album sprouted out of the United Kingdom's "concrete jungle," a phrase borrowed from Bob Marley's 1973 album Catch a Fire and used to describe the violent inner cities of 1970s Britain. The album spawned the now-classic singles "A Message To You, Rudy" and "Monkey Man." Others singles such as "Gangsters," "Too Much Too Young" and "Ghost Town" further cemented their legacy. Several other artists would go on to integrate The Specials' music into their own creations, including Madlib, R.A. The Rugged Man, Sublime, Gorillaz, Down By Law and The Rolling Stones.
After several lineup changes, breakups and makeups, The Specials released their first album in 19 years in February 2019 titled Encore. The album soared to No. 1 on the U.K. charts, securing The Specials' first number one album since launching their legendary career. Speaking to RAPstation's Kyle Eustice at the time, Hall said with a laugh, "It only took 40 years. It was worth the wait.”
