Jim Seals of Seals and Crofts, Duo That Ruled ’70s Soft-Rock With Hits Like ‘Summer Breeze,’ Dies at 80

Variety ^ | 6/7 | Chris William

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Do "rule" and "soft rock" belong in the same sentence?

Did the Ray Conniff singers "rule" elevator music?

[dfwgator]

Eddie Kirk here, and Ray Conniff jubilee coming up in just a few moments.

I call it a jubilee. Actually, it's a Ray Conniff featurette.

Three, maybe four, back-to-back Ray Conniff classics.

[Ros42]

Aww...may he RIP! They happened to be performing a small outdoor concert in the’70’s, while we were vacationing in Vail CO. They were great!

[newfreep]

Growing up in mid 60s, I was never a fan of Seals/Croft - their sound was so dull & boring vs MUCH better singer/songwriters of the late 60s/70s.

That said, “Summer Breeze” was playing in the background of a very special & romantic evening in my off campus room at UofCincinnati with a petite blonde who had a striking resemblance of a young Olivia-Newton John.

So when I hear “Summer Breeze”, it brings back very fond memories...

[Shady]

Ah, Community College.. They were interesting fellows. There is a Ba’hai Temple on the way to the Lake, and I thought about them often passing it.

[leaning conservative]

RIP....summer breeze is one of the all time great songs.

[basalt]

i did like one song of theirs...”GET CLOSER”..i think it was called...

[leaning conservative]

Oh, I so agree!

[mairdie]

We’re losing some of the roots of our musical life. Simply heartbreaking.

Galaxy Quest - We May Never Pass This Way Again - Seals and Croft
https://youtu.be/y-cwIrLvbbg

Quantum Leap - We May Never Pass This Way Again - Seals and Croft
https://youtu.be/gvvWe2xsK3k

[twister881]

Seals & Crofts were so much more than just "Summer Breeze." They were pro-life, pro-peace, pro-human race, and they wrote & performed heartbreakingly beautiful music. Here are two, "King of Nothing," a sad lament about life, and "Ruby Jean & Billie Lee," a moving tribute to their wives:

King of Nothing

Ruby Jean & Billie Lee

.

[Prince of Space]

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned “Hummingbird.” It’s a gorgeous melodic song and my favorite Seals & Crofts tune.

I was at California Jam in 1974 but I don’t remember seeing them. I really wanted to see Deep Purple and The Who, which were the top billed bands. We left during The Who’s set because we were exhausted. We’d been up since 4 am, stood in line for 4 hours to get in, and ended up with major sunburns while we sat on the field listening to the music. I developed my lifelong aversion to crowds after sharing that experience with 250,000 ppl.

[NWFree]

I had greatest hits on an 8 track 🤪

Hummingbird don’t fly away fly away 🎵

[blueunicorn6]

RIP

Met him in 1976.

Very kind to me.

[JPG]

I testify, O my Lord, that Thou hast enjoined upon men to honor their guest, and he that hath ascended unto Thee hath verily reached Thee and attained Thy Presence. Deal with him then according to Thy grace and bounty! By Thy glory, I know of a certainty that Thou wilt not withhold Thyself from that which Thou hast commanded Thy servants, nor wilt Thou deprive him that hath clung to the cord of Thy bounty and hath ascended to the Dayspring of Thy wealth.

There is none other God but Thee, the One, the Single, the Powerful, the Omniscient, the Bountiful.

-Baha'u'llah

[mozarky2]

A comedian whose name I don’t remember once referred to them as “Arts and Crafts”.

[traderrob6]

Really a class act....This is one of my favorites even though lesser known.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ47Jf-BnkE

[willk]

“I wonder if Jim Seals repented for “Summer Breeze” on his deathbed.”

???

[willk]

I am 64 now and haven’t heard the song King of Nothing since I was a teenager. But reminded of it now I still can remember all the words.

[nfldgirl]

Please elaborate.

[T.B. Yoits]

Repenting for torturing people.