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Foundations singer Clem Curtis dies

Clem Curtis has died at the age of 76.

The Foundations singer - who sang on the 60s hits 'Baby Now That I've Found You' and 'Back on My Feet Again' - has passed away at the age of 76 following a battle with cancer.

Clem - who was born in Trinidad in the West Indies before moving to England when he was 15 - was the lead singer of the British soul group which formed in 1967 before he left in 1968.

He was replaced by Colin Young who he auditioned as a replacement to help out the band and Young went on to sing of the group's biggest hit 'Build Me Up Buttercup' - which featured in the 1998 comedy film 'There's Something About Mary' which starred Cameron Diaz.

The line-up of The Foundations was comprised of West Indians, White British men and a Sri Lankan and they were the first multi-racial group to have a number one hit in the UK in the 1960s.

After Clem left the group he pursued a music career in America and became friends with legends such as Sammy Davis Jr. and Wilson Pickett.

In the 1980s, he joined The Corporation - which also featured former Troggs lead singer Reg Presley - who released the single 'Ain't Nothing But A House Party' in 1988.

At the end of the decade he reunited with original Foundations guitarist Alan Warner to re-cut the original Foundations hits and then continued to perform under The Foundations name with various line-ups.

Before being diagnosed with his illness, Clem - who was known as 'The Godfather of English Soul' - was a regular on the live circuit in the UK.

Source: www.msn.com
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