Andy "Thunderclap" Newman, the Dixieland-influenced pianist and vocalist at the core of late 60's-early 70's one-hit wonder band Thunderclap Newman, has reportedly passed away at age 73.
http://brickwahl.com/2016/03/30/thunderclap-newman/
One of the great one-hit bands of all time, they scaled the top of the charts in 1969 with the song "Something in the Air," with an assist from the Who's Pete Townshend. The song was featured in, among other things, the soundtracks to counterculture-era films "Easy Rider" and "The Magic Christian." Their sole album, 1970's "Hollywood Dream," is a true classic of the era, featuring such gems as "Accidents," the ever-catchy "Hollywood #1," "The Old Corn Mill," and "Wild Country."
Newman was the band's last surviving member: Jimmy McCullough, guitarist and future-member of Paul McCartney & Wings, died from drug issues in September, 1979. Drummer/vocalist Speedy Keen passed in March, 2002, from heart failure.
RIP Thunderclap Newman, the man and the band.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFLlj34q30U
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Update: Two reputable news sources are now carrying the news of Mr. Newman's passing.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrit...d-aged-7665286
http://spectator.org/blog/65936/andy...lap-newman-rip