Sad news to report tonight and, worse, likely to be just the start of many posts of this sort. The multitalented musician Adam Schlesinger has passed away of complications of the coronavirus pandemic. He was 52.
Schlesinger is known for his bands Ivy and Tinted Windows, and more recently as co-composer of songs from the CW television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend starring Rachel Bloom and the Tom Hanks film That Thing You Do! He was mostly known for his former band Fountains of Wayne and their hit track “Stacy’s Mom.”
It was announced only yesterday, March 31, that he was hospitalized for COVID-19 and was put into an induced coma and hooked onto a ventilator.
Fountains of Wayne was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2003 for best new artist and best pop duo/group performance for “Stacy’s Mom,” which peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The band released five studio albums since forming in 1995, the last being 2011’s Sky Full of Holes.
There’s currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
You can protect yourself and help prevent spreading the virus to others if you:
Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub.
Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze.
Avoid close contact (6 feet) with people who are unwell.
Stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean
RIP, Adam.
Another project that he added his touch to was the fabulous 2016 Monkees album Good Times! which Adam produced and wrote or co-wrote (with Micky Dolenz) a couple of songs for. Wonderful, unexpected comeback album full of great power pop. Definitely worth checking out.
Adam also produced much of The Monkees Christmas album that came out a couple of years ago and had a similar power pop touch. He was a great fit for Micky, Mike and Peter.
He will be sorely missed.