Bill Fay, the beloved English folk musician and songwriter known for his deeply moving compositions, has died peacefully in London at age 81, his label Dead Oceans announced. The artist, who was previously diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, passed away on February 22.
Born in North London in 1943, Fay began his musical journey writing songs on piano and harmonium during his college years in Wales. His talent caught the attention of Van Morrison's drummer Terry Noon, who helped him secure a deal with Decca Records subsidiary Deram.
In the early 1970s, Fay released two albums - his self-titled debut in 1970 and "Time of the Last Persecution" in 1971. His politically charged music addressed major world events including the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, Jim Crow laws, and the Vietnam War.
Despite poor initial sales leading to his label dropping him, both albums gradually achieved cult classic status over the decades. Fay's work found renewed appreciation in the 2010s, leading to three new albums: "Life Is People" (2012), "Who Is the Sender?" (2015), and "Countless Branches" (2020).
Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, an ardent admirer, described his first encounter with Fay's music to The New York Times: "I was astonished: How have I not heard this? How is this not something that is part of our DNA?"
Known for being intensely private, Fay rarely performed live despite his growing fanbase. In a 2020 interview, he reflected on his late-career renaissance: "It's best I spend my available time doing what I've always done. I'm thankful that side of my life has continued for all my life — finding songs in the corner of the room."
At the time of his death, Fay was working on new material, which Dead Oceans hopes to complete and release in the future.