Alex Chilton dead at 59; led Big Star, Box Tops, inspired countless bands
Alex Chilton performs at the SXSW festival in 2004. (Jack Plunkett, AP)
Paul Westerberg and the Replacements spoke for countless artists and diehard fans when they wrote a song called "Alex Chilton" in 1987.
"Children by the millions sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round/They sing, 'I'm in love, what's that song?/ I'm in love with that song.' "
Chilton, who died Wednesday in New Orleans of a heart attack at age 59, was a cult artist for most of his career, better known for the bands and artists he inspired, including R.E.M., Wilco, Jeff Buckley and the Replacements, than his own music. Yet his legacy endures, most especially the three studio albums he recorded with his group Big Star in Memphis during the '70s. Big Star was a group ahead of its time, its merger of British Invasion-style guitar melody and Southern soul a template for what would become known as "power pop." But it was virtually unheard in its time; the third Big Star album, "Sister Lovers," was released long after Chilton had walked away from the group utterly discouraged by its lack of success.
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