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.
Foundations singer Clem Curtis dies
