Died On This Date (August 3, 2008) Erik Darling / The Weavers, Rooftop Singers
themusicsover Erik Darling
September 25, 1933 – August 3, 2008
Erik Darling was a folk singer-songwriter who found success in two of the genres most influential groups, the Weavers and the Rooftop Singers. Prior to replacing Pete Seeger in the Weavers in 1958, Darling had a group with future film star, Alan Arkin. The group was first called the Tunetellers and later, the Terriers and they scored a Top 5 Billboard hit with their version of “Banana Boat Song (Day-O).” Darling was in the Weavers for four years after which he formed the Rooftop Singers, a hipper folk group whose “Walk Right In” landed at #1 on pop charts in 1963 and was certified gold for selling over 1 million copies for Vanguard Records. Darling died of lymphoma at the age of at the age of 74. Upon learning of Darling’s passing, Vanguard’s Morgana Kennedy said, “That’s sad.”
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist
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