BOISE, IDAHO (CelebrityAccess) — Paul Revere, frontman and organist for the storied rock band Paul Revere & The Raiders, died at his home on October 4th. He was 76 at the time of his passing.
While a cause of death was not officially announced, TMZ reported that Revere was battling cancer when he died.. In July, Revere announced that he was stepping out of his role as an active performer with the group, citing health issues.
Revere, born in 1938, and known as the "the madman of rock & roll" was also known for his engaging, larger-than-life stage persona and flamboyant style, often performing in costumes that were a patriotic riff on Sgt. Pepper's uniform.
Founded by Revere in 1958, The Raiders first saw significant commercial success with the 1961 hit "Like, Long Hair", but gained national cachet in 1966, with two top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100; one for their anti-drug hit "Kicks", which reached #4 and "Hungry" which reached #6.
In 1971, the Raiders had a chart topper with "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)", which peaked at #1 and spent 22 weeks on the charts. To promote the record, Revere crossed the U.S. three times on a motorcycle, making promotional appearances. The album would go on to sell more 4 million copies, a coup for Clive Davis' Columbia Records.
The group also maintained an active presence on American television in the 1960s and according to the biography on the band's website, appeared in 520 episodes of ABC's "Where the Action Is", produced by Dick Clark. As well, they also appeared on another Dick Clark Vehicle, "Happening" during the same period.
Paul Revere & The Raiders were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
Following Revere's death, his bandmates and friends posted a heartfelt open letter that is definitely worth reading. – Staff Writers
