Bill Fay, the beloved British folk singer-songwriter known for songs like "The Healing Day" and "Thank You Lord," has died peacefully in London at age 81, his record label Dead Oceans announced Saturday.
The reclusive musician, who began his career in 1967, released his self-titled debut album in 1970 followed by "Time of the Last Persecution" in 1971. Though these early works saw limited commercial success, they were rediscovered and reissued in the 1990s, earning Fay a dedicated cult following.
After a four-decade hiatus from studio recording, Fay made a remarkable comeback with 2012's "Life Is People." He went on to release two more acclaimed albums: "Who Is the Sender?" in 2015 and "Countless Branches" in 2020.
Born in London in 1943, Fay studied electronics in Wales where he began composing on piano and harmonium. Despite his influence on numerous artists, he remained notably private throughout his career, making just one television appearance on BBC's "Later... With Jools Holland."
His songs have been covered by notable acts including The War on Drugs, Wilco, Pavement, and Marc Almond. His track "Be Not So Fearful" reached wider audiences when AC Newman's version was featured in "The Walking Dead."
At the time of his passing, Fay had begun work on a new album just one month prior. Dead Oceans expressed hopes to complete and release this final project.
In their statement, the label remembered him as "a gentle man and a gentleman, wise beyond our times" and "the man in the corner of the room at the piano, who quietly wrote heartfelt songs that touched and connected with people around the world."