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The Rubettes Guitarist Tony Thorpe Dies Aged 80
His family said the 80-year-old musician helped lead The Rubettes to a four-week UK No. 1 with "Sugar Baby Love."
- Tony Thorpe, guitarist and vocalist for The Rubettes, died at age 80. His family announced the musician's passing in a Facebook statement on July 17, remembering him as a mentor to countless musicians.
- The Rubettes formed in 1974, emerging during the glam rock era in their signature white suits. Their debut single, "Sugar Baby Love," topped the United Kingdom charts for four weeks in May 1974.
- Beyond the band's major hits like "Tonight," "Juke Box Jive," and "I Can Do It," Thorpe also accompanied artists including Cilla Black, Jimmy Tarbuck, Sir Harry Secombe, and Roy Castle throughout his career.
- Paying tribute, former bandmate Alan Williams wrote on Facebook, "Your brilliance with the axe and the pen cannot be denied." Thorpe is survived by his wife, Shirle, and his son, Clay.
- After leaving the group in 1979, Thorpe released his own music, lectured at Blackburn College, and published a memoir in 2014. His family noted that failing health did little to diminish his sharp sense of humor.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
Tony Thorpe, former guitarist for The Rubettes, has died. The musician was 80 and had a career that included several well-known hits.
·Budapest, Hungary
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left7Leaning Right2Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Left
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources lean Left
64% Left
L 64%
C 18%
R 18%
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