Posted on 06/25/2026 12:50:19 PM PDT by fidelis
David Clayton-Thomas, the Canadian singer and songwriter whose soulful voice was ubiquitous on American radio in the late 1960s and early ‘70s as lead singer of the brass-driven group Blood, Sweat & Tears, has died, according to his publicist. No cause of death was cited except that he died peacefully at a Toronto hospital on Wednesday evening; he was 84.
Clayton-Thomas wrote “Spinning Wheel,” the group’s most well-known original composition, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969, one of three songs by the band to reach that mark in that year; “When I Die” and the powerful ballad “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” also reached No. 2, powered by Clayton-Thomas’ unmistakable voice. The group won two Grammys in 1970, including best album....
(Excerpt) Read more at variety.com ...
Always lived his voice. Some really great songs from that band!
One of my favorite high school groups. They got a lot of air time on K-SHE in St. Louis, the “underground” FM station that had no commercials, just music. Those were the days.
60’s and 70’s, what great and creative musicians.
RIP, David Clayton-Thomas.
And when I die...
And when I’m gone...
They’ll be one child born...
To carry on.
To carry on.
They gave one of the better performances at Woodstock no one talks about...
One of their best songs: Blood, Sweat & Tears: “Lucretia MacEvil” (1970)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOgRy4Ssluw
Such a distinctive voice. I knew he’d hit rock bottom when he recorded the jingle for McDonald’s hamburgers years later. I figured he’d blown out his larynx.
“STOP LYIN! STOP LYIN! STOP LYIN! LUUUUUUUUUUUU-SEEEEEE!!”
I remember Clayton Thomas being interviewed about the band- he said the kiss of death was when fans/kids would listen to their albums and songs and all of a sudden the parents would say, “hey- that’s pretty good!!!”
Loved both iterations of them, though. Still play their 1st two (post-Kooper) albums on my turntable.
Great band, great vocslist.
They gave one of the better performances at Woodstock no one talks about...
Blood, Sweat & Tears delivered a historic, late-night set at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Taking the stage at 1:45 AM on Monday, August 18, the jazz-rock band played a 10-song, 55-minute set to a massive crowd. They were the second highest-paid act of the festival, securing $15,000
Despite their thrilling late-night performance, the band is famously missing from the iconic 1970 Woodstock documentary and its original soundtrack. This omission occurred because the group’s management demanded payment for their inclusion in the film, which the producers refused, leading to the footage being cut entirely.
I played that song a thousand times on my 8-track.
Yes. Condolences to family and friends of David Clayton Thomas.
Thanks for posting.
Spinning Wheel got to go ‘round...............
Outstanding opening to their set:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWhGw3QYoj8
“This omission occurred because the group’s management demanded payment for their inclusion in the film”
Warner Bros made zillions off the film and few others made a cent...if i remember correctly the organizers of Woodstock were forced to sign over the rights and all the film considering what a financial debacle the concert was...
One of my favorite bands when I was in college.
Yep, one for the ages
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