Iconic cult singer Bill Fay dies as tributes pour in for 'gentleman with biggest heart'

Bill Fay has died aged 81 (Image: Dead Oceans)

The music world is mourning the loss of Bill Fay, the iconic singer-songwriter, who has passed away aged 81.

His record label, Dead Oceans, confirmed the sad news with a heartfelt statement, announcing that the folk legend died "peacefully" in London. Bill, who had been battling Parkinson's disease, passed away on Saturday morning.

Describing him as a "gentle man and a gentleman, wise beyond our times," the label paid homage to his wisdom and character. They also shared that Bill was actively working on new music just a month before his passing, expressing hope to release his final album posthumously.

Their tribute continued: "He was a private person with the biggest of hearts, who wrote immensely moving, meaningful songs that will continue to find people for years to come."

Bill had been planning a new album (Image: Dead Oceans)

Highlighting his legacy, the statement reflected on the late star's early work, saying: "Bill's first two albums, Bill Fay and Time of the Last Persecution, found a modest but loving audience upon their release at the dawn of the 1970s.

"While they weren't considered commercial successes at the time, they continue to inspire devotion decades on, now known as overlooked classics from the era."

The tribute further detailed Bill's late-career resurgence, adding: 'With enormous help from producer Joshua Henry, who tracked Bill down and convinced him to make another album, Bill later went on to make three more albums with Dead Oceans: Life is People (2012), his first release for forty years; Who is the Sender? (2015); and Countless Branches (2020), enjoying his cult status in real time.

"Only a month before his passing, Bill was busy working on a new album. Our hope is to find a way to finish and release it, but for now, we remember Bill's legacy as the 'man in the corner of the room at the piano', who quietly wrote heartfelt songs that touched and connected with people around the world."

Bill released his first two albums in the '70s (Image: ArtRockStore.com)

The emotional statement concluded: "Life Is People. With love, Bill's friends at Dead Oceans."

Tributes have been flooding social media with fans sharing their deep connection to his music.

One user emotionally shared: "It would be nearly impossible for me to convey the impact that Bill's music has had on my life. Few writers spoke to the human condition and the beauty of this world, like Bill Fay. May he rest in peace."

Another shared: "I've only recently been introduced to Bill's beautiful music, but it's really gone deep with me. God bless you, Bill."

A third posted: "Thanks for bringing his incredible, sacred music to a new audience, myself included."

Bascent in the music industry began in the '70s when former Van Morrison drummer Terry Noon discovered him during his university days, leading to a contract with Decca Records subsidiary Dream. It was here that he released his initial two albums.

Bill had been battling Parkinson's disease (Image: Dead Oceans)

Despite poor sales initially and being dropped from the label, Bill saw a resurgence when he re-issued his music nearly four decades later in 1998.

He was then discovered by producer Jim O'Rourke, who played Bill's music to Jeff Tweedy while he was recording Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - leading to him covering the song Be Not So Fearful with his band Wilco.

Bill later performed with the band in 2007 and 2010.

Speaking about Fay's music in 2024, Jeff told The Guardian: "There's a simplicity and an elegance to it. You immediately recognise this is something uncut by ambition and fashion; it's just somebody humbly adding their voice to contribute some beauty in, and maybe make peace with, the world."