Saturday, December 14, 2024

RIP Terry Kirkman, 83, Songwriter and Singer for The Association, Wrote the Hit Song, “Cherish”

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Sad to report that one of the great voices of 60s pop music has died.

Terry Kirkman was 83 years old. He was the songwriter and lead singer of The Association, a classy outfit of vocalist whose many hits became part of the culture for life.

Kirkman wrote the group’s signature song, “Cherish,” a haunting uptempo ballad that was a hit in the 60 s and again with David Cassidy in the 70s. His voice can be heard prominently on the Association’s other hits like “Never My Love,” “Along Comes Mary,” and “Windy.” “Cherish” had three Grammy nominations. Bones Howe was the Association’s famous producer and he brought with him most of The Wrecking Crew to play on the records. (Howe also produced all the Fifth Dimension’s hit including their hit cover “Never My Love.”)

The Association’s Greatest Hits for a decade was part of every record collection, that’s how popular they were. Kirkman had a great pop education, too. He was “associated” with all the top pop stars in LA in the mid to late 60s like Cass Elliott and David Crosby.

The voices of The Association will be heard resonating through the universe far longer than most of today’s acts. Condolences.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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