RIP Colin Vearncombe, aka Black.

Colin Vearncombe had a handful of hits in the late 80s as Black ('Wonderful Life', 'Sweetest Smile', Everything's Coming Up Roses').

Great though those songs are, he was so much more than that, producing 15 indie albums and being lauded as 'one of the nation's great songwriters'. His last album a few months ago gained a 4-star review in the Guardian.

A skilled crafter of song, a stunning voice and a beautiful man who I had the chance to meet a few times.

His words and voice have accompanied me across the years, especially this last decade and his more recent music.

Below are a few links to greater or lesser known songs. In the 10-minute mini documentary below he says of his music: 'It's become a more intense, deeper experience the older I get.'

Have a Guinness on me, Colin- and goodnight.

Wonderful Life



Everything's Coming Up Roses



10- minute mini documentary (2010)

Sad news - Wonderful Life was one of our British No Limits Powerplays that we were a key to breaking along with It's My Life by Talk Talk and Mary's Prayer by Danny Wilson and others; I have very happy memories of my TV time in the 80s and great pride on my involvement in breaking great music. My key - first; get huge ratings (No Limits was No1 on the BBC2 channel) then two; frequently play 90 seconds of great music so as to interest and intrigue potential fans without putting off the majority who didn't like it. It worked.

For me this song was as good as it got with Colin Vearncombe Being a few feet away while he performed it was a real goosebumps moment. Amazing.