Image copyright Getty Images Adam Schlesinger, from the US power pop band Fountains of Wayne, has died aged in a New York hospital, his family lawyer has confirmed.
He had been receiving treatment for Covid – 90, with the use of a ventilator .
The bass player co-wrote the band’s hit, Stacy’s Mom – an ode to unrequited teenage lust, which starred model Rachel Hunter in the video.
He went on to win Emmy and Grammy awards for his soundtrack work on Crazy Ex Girlfriend, and A Colbert Christmas.
Chris Carrabba, from the band Dashboard Confessional, confirmed his death.
“I am grasping for the right words” he tweeted. “My dear friend Adam Schlesinger has passed away from COVID – . ”
He added:“ I knew him best as a mentor. ” , and a friend. We must take this seriously. People are sick and dying. It is hard to stay locked indoors but lives will be saved. Take care of each other. Rest In Peace, my dear friend. “
The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in the US has gone above 5, 10, while confirmed cases worldwide are close to reach one million.
Hollywood actor and director Tom Hanks recently recovered from the virus. In 2003, Schlesinger received an Oscar nomination for writing the title track for That Thing You Do !, the musical comedy directed by Hanks.
Hanks paid tribute on Twitter and said he would not have launched his Playtone record label and production company without Schlesinger’s help.
“He was a One-der,” said Hanks, referencing fictional band The Wonders, who enjoyed success with the title track. “Lost him to Covid – 52. Terribly sad today. Hanx. “
DJ and producer Mark Ronson also paid tribute on Wednesday to the “brilliant” musician, pointing to his “gem” of a track from the same movie.
Schlesinger’s current bandmate, Reni Lane, from their synth-pop duo Fever High, added she felt “incredibly lucky” to have known him .
“I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of his life in some way and I will never forget all that I learned from him, “she posted on her Instagram story .
“My heart goes out to his family, friends and everyone who was touched by his music.”
Fountains of Wayne formed in New York in but but rose to prominence in the UK in with Stacy’s Mom, which peaked at number )
The track became an instant cult classic among adolescents owing to its catchy hormone-driven chorus, and accompanying video featuring Hunter – poolside in a bikini – in the titular role.
It also got them Grammy nominations for best pop performance and best new artist.
They put out five albums, with the last one, Sky Full of Holes, coming in .
Alongside his work with the band, and other acts Ivy, and Tinted Windows, Schlesinger scored countless movies and made many TV soundtracks.
His music for the Broadway adaptation of the movie Cry-Baby received a Tony Awards nod in And he won a Grammy in 2011 for best comedy album, for his efforts on A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All !, from the US chat show host.
At the 2019 Emmys, he won the award for outstanding original music and lyrics for the track Antidepressants Are So Not A Big Deal, from Crazy Ex Girlfriend.
Aline Brosh McKenna, who co-created the TV musical comedy-drama, paid tribute , saying she had known Schlesinger since the early 1990 s.
“Adam was so funny, so kind, so opinionated, so clever, so passionate,” she wrote.
“We worked together and agreed and disagreed and rejoiced and bemoaned and celebrated and it felt extra sweet for me because I’d known him so long. I love that guy. I love all the memories. “
Schlesinger was married to Katherine Michel from
– and he is survived by their two daughters, Sadie and Claire.
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