(June 19, 2018) Lovers of 70s soul music no doubt remember the cool Chicago soul song “the Sly, The Slick and the Wicked.” It was the commercial highpoint of the talented Chicago quartet The Lost Generation. We are sad to inform SoulTrackers of the death of that group’s lead singer, Lowrell Simon, at age 75.
Mr. Simon began his career as a singer in The Vondells, the group that scored a regional hit with “Lenore.” Simon’s learnings from that experience led him to form The Lost Generation, smartly teaming with legendary Chi-Town producer Carl Davis and signing with Brunswick Records (the label of The Chi Lites and Jackie Wilson).
(June 19, 2018) Lovers of 70s soul music no doubt remember the cool Chicago soul song “the Sly, The Slick and the Wicked.” It was the commercial highpoint of the talented Chicago quartet The Lost Generation. We are sad to inform SoulTrackers of the death of that group’s lead singer, Lowrell Simon, at age 75.
Mr. Simon began his career as a singer in The Vondells, the group that scored a regional hit with “Lenore.” Simon’s learnings from that experience led him to form The Lost Generation, smartly teaming with legendary Chi-Town producer Carl Davis and signing with Brunswick Records (the label of The Chi Lites and Jackie Wilson).
Along with “Sly,” the group landed a series of hits through the mid-70s, but split up as sales began to lag. Simon continued to be an influencer in soul music, writing and producing other acts, including the great Loleatta Holloway. He also continued as a solo artist, scoring a surprise hit in 1979 with the cool “Mellow Mellow Right On.” Another great artist from the talent-rich city that Chicago was in the 1970s, Mr. Simon will be missed, but also remembered for some terrific songs.
By Chris Rizik