[bomp] DAVE CLARK FIVE SINGER-SONGWRITER MIKE SMITH, R.I.P.

["Perry L. Adler" <PerryAdler@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

got in mail, no link...

Mike Smith, the lead singer and keyboard player of The Dave Clark Five, one of
the premier bands to emerge during the 1960bs bBritish Invasionb, died
today from pneumonia at Stoke Mandeville Hospital outside of London. His
devoted wife, Arlene, who is known as Charlie, was by his side.  Smith was 64
years old.

Smith, who was due to be inducted into the Rock bnb Roll Hall of Fame with
his band mates on Monday, March 10th, was admitted to the hospitalbs
Intensive Care Unit yesterday morning with a chest infection, a complication
from a spinal cord injury he sustained in September, 2003 that left him a
tetraplegic (paralyzed below the ribcage with limited use of his upper body).
Smith had been in the hospital since the accident, and was just released in
December 2007 when he moved into a specially-prepared home near the hospital
with his wife. Prior to his hospitalization yesterday, arrangements were being
made to transport Smith to New York so he could personally attend the Hall of
Fame Induction Ceremony.

After his accident, Smith found tremendous support from his peers including
Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven Van Zandt, and Peter Noone of Hermanbs
Hermits, who helped defray his medical costs through donations and
fundraisers.  Long-time fan and bLate Showb bandleader, Paul Shaffer,
helped organize a benefit concert in New York in August 2005, which featured
many of Smithbs fellow bBritish Invasionb stars, including The Zombies
and Peter & Gordon.  A DVD of the benefit, Paul Shaffer and his British
Invasion: A Tribute to Mike Smith will be released in March by VDI
Entertainment.

According to Smithbs agent, Margo Lewis of TCI in New York, bThese last
five years were extremely difficult for Mike. I am incredibly saddened to lose
him, his energy and his humor, but I am comforted by the fact that he had the
chance to spend his final months and days at home with his loving wife,
Charlie, whom he adored, instead of in the hospital, and that he was able to
attend a recent concert in London by his good friend, Bruce Springsteen.  He
was extremely excited and honored to have been inducted into the Rock bnb
Roll Hall of Fame and I am glad that he will be remembered as a bHall of
Famer,b because he was in so many ways.b

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