It has been reported at various media outlets that 70s music star Andrew Gold has died. While not considered a soul music artist by any means, he was important in the development of the Los Angeles music scene that was so fertile for rock and soul artists of the next two decades.
Gold was born in Burbank, the son of Academy Award-winning composer Ernest Gold and singer Marni Nixon. He became a hot property as a singer, songwriter and arranger, first working in the future-star group Bryndle (which also featured Wendy Waldman and Karla Bonoff) and significantly as part of the team that put together Linda Ronstadt's breakout album, Heart Liek a Wheel.
It has been reported at various media outlets that 70s music star Andrew Gold has died. While not considered a soul music artist by any means, he was important in the development of the Los Angeles music scene that was so fertile for rock and soul artists of the next two decades.
Gold was born in Burbank, the son of Academy Award-winning composer Ernest Gold and singer Marni Nixon. He became a hot property as a singer, songwriter and arranger, first working in the future-star group Bryndle (which also featured Wendy Waldman and Karla Bonoff) and significantly as part of the team that put together Linda Ronstadt's breakout album, Heart Liek a Wheel.
Gold hit gold in 1975 with his ubiquitous hit, "Lonely Boy," which topped the charts. He followed it two years later with the hit single "Thank You For Being A Friend" (later the theme song for NBC comedy The Golden Girls) and the bouncy "Never Let Her Slip Away."
He also worked as a producer, musician or collaborator with several major artists, including Stephen Bishop, Art Garfunkel, Paul McCartney and many, many more. Gold also was part of the duo Wax UK, and later joined a latter day version of the group 10cc (long after their hit making days were done). He continued to record both solo and with various acts into the new millennium. Gold was the widower of pop singer Nicolette Larson.
Gold was a real talent who contributed far more to the music world than the public -- who generally knew him only for his few solo hits -- ever understood. And while it may seem odd for us to be writing about him on SoulTracks, we had great respect for him as an artist who both greatly and quietly helped usher in a musical era. He will be missed.
By Chris Rizik
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