The Smithereens' Pat DiNizio Dies At 62

From Facebook

PAT DINIZIO, the lead singer and songwriter of THE SMITHEREENS, died TUESDAY (12/12).  He was 62.

DINIZIO fronted the NEW JERSEY-based power pop SMITHEREENS from its 1980 formation, hitting the U.S. Top 40 once with "A Girl Like You" and the Rock charts with "Only a Memory," "Blood and Roses," "Behind the Wall of Sleep," and several more, recorded for ENIGMA/CAPITOL, BMG, and KOCH ENTERTAINMENT.  The band remained active to the present day, although DINIZIO had been battling health issues in recent years and had been undergoing physical therapy for back and neck injuries; appearances in ANNAPOLIS, PHILADELPHIA, and FALL RIVER, MA were scheduled for 2018.  He also released five solo albums.

DINIZIO had been active since 2015 with the LIGHT OF DAY FOUNDATION, playing both solo and with the band at the Parkinson's disease charity's annual WINTERFEST fundraiser, and the organization's Executive Director TONY PALLAGROSI said, “PAT was a powerful vocalist with one of the most distinctive voices in rock, a brilliant songwriter, a great cook, a proud Italian, a lover of AMERICA’s favorite pastime and the and most importantly, a sweet and bright human being.  Once he started working with us, he was here to stay. This is a tremendous loss to the LIGHT OF DAY family, and the music community overall.”

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