Black, aka Colin Vearncombe Dies In Cork

Hot Press is deeply saddened to hear that the news has been confirmed tonight that Colin Vearncombe, the singer also known as Black, has died. He was aged 53.

The singer-songwriter was involved in a horrific car crash near Cork airport two weeks ago and had been placed in an induced coma. The hope was that the respite might provide his body with the space in which to recover, but sadly the deeply wished-for recovery did not materialise.

On Sunday, an update on his Facebook page explained that his condition had in fact deteriorated. This afternoon an even grimmer update signalled the end. It said simply: “Colin Vearncombe. 26/5/1962-26/1/2016. A full statement will follow shortly.”

Vearncombe had been involved in music since 1981, when the first Black single ‘Human Features’ was released. A major label deal followed in 1984, when Black signed with WEA. But that turned out to be a temporary alliance and he was dropped by the label. The single ‘Wonderful Life’ was his response – and it captured the imagination, ultimately becoming a worldwide hit via A&M Records in 1987. He also had a UK Top 10 hit with the preceding single 'Sweetest Smile'.

The global success of 'Wonderful Life' fuelled a career. He released eight albums as Black and six under his own name. Together, his albums Comedy (1988) and Black (1991) sold 2 million copies. His most recent album Blind Faith, which was funded by a highly successful Pledge Music campaign, was released to a very positive critical reaction in 2015.

Originally from Liverpool, Vearncombe moved to Cork because he loved it there. “I like my elbow room,” he said, “and eccentricity is tolerated here.” He lived with his ex-wife, his four sons and what has been described as “a selection of foreign students who lodged with him."

Tonight, Black’s wife Camilla – from Sweden, she was the singer with the band One 2 Many – and his sons paid tribute to the treatment he had received in Cork University Hospital. “Colin received the best possible care from the expert and highly professional staff there and we are deeply grateful for everything they did,” they said.

There were moving descriptions of his last moments, the singer dying peacefully with his family at his bedside – “who were singing him on his way.”

Among those paying tribute is his Liverpudlian buddy Pete Wylie from The Mighty Wah!
"Wah! took Black on tour," he recalls. "I got Colin to join us for the encores and got him to sing on 'The Story Of The Blues' on TV too. I could still sing the very first song Colin recorded with me in the Wah! studio. That voice!"

The funeral will be a private one. Meanwhile, a memorial service is being planned in Liverpool, with a charity, for donations in his memory, to be announced.

Black’s management said they were aware that many people will want to celebrate his life and work. “No need to laugh or cry,” they said. "It’s a wonderful, wonderful life.”