Jill Sobule, the award-winning singer-songwriter whose witty and poignant writing first attracted widespread consideration with the music I Kissed a Lady, died in a home hearth Thursday. She was 66.
Her demise was confirmed by her publicist, David Elkin, in an electronic mail Thursday afternoon. It was not instantly clear how the hearth in Woodbury, Minn., began.
“Jill Sobule was a power of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our tradition,” John Porter, her supervisor, stated in an announcement. “I used to be having a lot enjoyable working along with her. I misplaced a consumer and a buddy right now. I hope her music, reminiscence, and legacy proceed to stay on and encourage others.”
Throughout her greater than three a long time of recording, Sobule launched 12 albums that addressed such complicated matters because the demise penalty, anorexia nervosa, copy and 2SLGBTQ+ points.
Her first album, Issues Right here Are Completely different, was launched in 1990. 5 years later, she acquired widespread consideration for her hit singles, Supermodel, featured in the film Clueless, and I Kissed A Lady, which, regardless of being banned on a number of southern radio stations, made it into the Billboard Prime 20. The latter music’s light-hearded video featured mannequin Fabio as Sobule’s love curiosity.
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Colorado live performance to be a tribute as a substitute
Sobule was recognized for taking management of her profession by fundraising so she may make her subsequent album. In 2008, after two main report firms dumped her and two indie labels went bankrupt beneath her, she raised tens of 1000’s of {dollars} from followers so she may make a brand new album.
“The outdated form of paradigm, the place you’ve got at all times waited for different folks to do issues, you’d have your supervisor and your agent,” she stated on the time. “You’d anticipate the massive report firm to offer you cash to do issues and so they let you know what to do. That is so nice. I wish to do every little thing like this.”
Sobule had reveals scheduled within the U.S. by October, in keeping with her web site, and was scheduled to carry out in Denver on Friday night time. As an alternative, there might be a casual gathering hosted by her buddy Ron Bostwick from 105.5 The Colorado Sound on the efficiency house the place attendees can “share a narrative or music,” in keeping with her publicist.
A proper memorial to have fun her life and legacy might be held later this summer season.
“Nobody made me snicker extra. Her spirit and power shall be drastically missed throughout the music group and past,” Craig Grossman, her reserving agent, stated in an announcement.
Artists who collaborated or toured with Sobule paid tribute on-line after her demise was introduced, together with Lloyd Cole, Tom Morello, Mocean Employee, Eels and members of Nada Surf and the Violent Femmes.
“Jill simply completed a tour with us a number of days in the past and was so vigorous and expertise. Our hearts are damaged,” the band the Fixx stated in a social media submit.
Staged off-Broadway musical
Born in Denver on Jan. 16, 1959, Sobule has described herself as a shy youngster who most popular observing over taking part.
She was recognized for taking part in dozens of reveals a 12 months and has described her stay performances as weak experiences. She stated she usually would not have a set record and wings it.
She’s carried out with such icons as Neil Younger, Billy Bragg and Cyndi Lauper and likewise inducted Neil Diamond into the Songwriter’s Corridor of Fame, in keeping with her web site. She appeared as herself in episodes of West Wing and Treme and in animated type on The Simpsons in 2019.
She additionally starred in an autobiographical off-Broadway musical that originally premiered on the Wild Mission in New York in 2022 and consists of songs and tales about her life.
“In a great way, I really feel like I am nonetheless a rookie,” she advised The Related Press in 2023 in an interview about her musical. “There’s a lot extra to do and I have never achieved my finest but.”
She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Ellen Sobule, alongside along with her nephews and cousins.
