Bill Fay, the cult British singer-songwriter whose career found a second wind after being rediscovered by a new generation of musicians, has passed away at the age of 81. His label, Dead Oceans, confirmed the news, paying tribute to his gentle nature and deep wisdom. In a statement, they said, “Bill was a gentle man and a gentleman, wise beyond our times. 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.” Though the cause of death has not been disclosed, it is known that Fay had been living with Parkinson’s disease in his final years.
Born in North London in 1943, Fay began his music career while studying electronics at college in Wales. It was during this time that he began composing songs, using both the piano and harmonium. His early demos caught the attention of Terry Noon, a former drummer for Van Morrison, who helped him sign to Deram, a subsidiary of Decca Records. His debut album, Bill Fay, was released in 1970, followed by the more experimental Time of the Last Persecution in 1971. However, the album’s disappointing sales led to Fay’s departure from the label. Reflecting on his experience, Fay once remarked, “I didn’t leave the music business—the music business left me.”
Fay’s music, deeply influenced by his Christian faith, resonated with the U.S. Jesus freak movement of the time. His poignant reflections on the human condition, often grappling with themes of suffering and existential despair, set him apart from many of his contemporaries. Time of the Last Persecution in particular delves into the tragedies of the 20th century, from the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the injustices of the Vietnam War and Jim Crow laws. Fay’s lyrics, as Pitchfork’s Sadie Sartini Garner noted in 2015, “stare into the void,” capturing both the sorrow and resilience that marked his work.
After his early records failed to gain commercial traction, Fay withdrew from the music scene, instead focusing on his family life and taking on various jobs, including as a groundskeeper, fishmonger, and fruit picker. For several decades, he believed that his music had been forgotten, saying in a 2012 interview with Spin, “As far as I was concerned, I was gone, deleted. No one was listening.”
However, Fay’s story took a remarkable turn in the late 1990s. After a reissue of his early works in 1998, producer Jim O’Rourke discovered Fay’s first two albums and introduced them to Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. The band added a cover of Fay’s “Be Not So Fearful” to their live performances, prompting the singer to join them for a couple of shows in 2007 and 2010. O’Rourke also shared Time of the Last Persecution with David Tibet, the founder of experimental band Current 93, who was so moved by the album that he helped Fay release Tomorrow, Tomorrow, & Tomorrow in 2005, a compilation of studio recordings from 1978 to 1981.
Fay’s late career revival continued in the 2010s with a deal with Dead Oceans, which led to the release of Life Is People in 2012, Who Is the Sender? in 2015, and Countless Branches in 2020. These albums received critical acclaim, and his music garnered a devoted following among contemporary artists like Stephen Malkmus, A.C. Newman, and the War on Drugs. Despite his newfound recognition, Fay rarely performed live and preferred to stay close to his London home, keeping his focus on songwriting rather than touring.
In a 2020 interview with The New York Times, Fay reflected on his solitary approach to music. “It’s best I spend my available time doing what I’ve always done,” he said. “I’m thankful that side of my life has continued for all my—finding songs in the corner of the room.” His introspective and quietly powerful songs continue to resonate with listeners, ensuring his place as an enduring and influential figure in the world of music.