COVID-19 Continues to Spread among Musicians

Chris Collingwood and the late Adam Schlesinger
at the Bowery Electric on March 23, 2013,
shortly before Fountains of Wayne split

Adam Schlesinger, co-founder of Fountains of Wayne, died on April 1 from complications related to coronavirus. Schlesinger had been hospitalized with COVID-19 and was put on a ventilator and sedated to facilitate his recovery. Although he had been making improvements, his condition was critical and he ultimately was unable to recover. Schlesinger was 52. Schlesinger was survived by his two daughters, Sadie and Claire, his life partner Alexis Morley, his parents Barbara and Stephen Schlesinger, and his sister Lauren.

A native of Montclair, New Jersey, Schlesinger co-founded the New York City-based band Ivy in 1994 and then co-founded the more successful Fountains of Wayne with Chris Collingwood in 1995. Fountains of Wayne had a Grammy-nominated hit in 2003 with "Stacy's Mom." Schlesinger achieved greater success scoring films, television programs and theater. He won three Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award, and was nominated for Academy, Tony, and Golden Globe Awards. He won an Emmy last year for a song he co-wrote for CW's "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," a show for which he wrote more than 100 songs. Schlesinger was writing the lyrics and music for a new theater production with comedian Sarah Silverman at the time of his death, according to a statement from the band's attorney.

In recent weeks, COVID-19 played a role in the deaths of Grammy Award-winning country artists Joe Diffie and Jan Howard, jazz artists Ellis Marsalis Jr. and Wallace Roney, African funk-fusion artist Manu Dibango, rocker Alan Merrill, and New Orleans bounce music DJ Black N Mild.

Several well-known musicians have revealed their coronavirus status.

Christopher Cross performed an unannounced set
at the Bitter End on November 30, 2015.
(Left to right: Oz Noy, Will Lee, Christopher Cross)

Christopher Cross revealed on April 3 that he has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. The 68-year-old five-time Grammy winner disclosed his diagnosis on social media. "I'm sorry to report that I am among the growing number of Americans who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus," he wrote. "Although I am fortunate enough to be cared for at home, this is possibly the worst illness I've ever had."

Nathaniel Rateliff joined John Prine at
WFMU's holiday concert at the Beacon Theatre
On December 3, 2018

Singer/songwriter John Prine was hospitalized on March 26 after experiencing a sudden onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Initially, the 73-year-old cancer survivor was intubated on March 28 and his status was critical, but he was stabilized according to a report on March 30. As of April 4, Prine was in his ninth day in an intensive care unit and was on a ventilator. According to his wife, Fiona Whelan Prine, who is also recovering from the disease, Prine has pneumonia in both lungs and he has also developed some peripheral issues that are being treated with medications including antibiotics. She said that her husband is still very ill but she remains hopeful that he can continue to fight this and come home where his family can care for him.

Jackson Browne at the Love Rocks NYC
benefit concert at the Beacon Theatre
on March 12, 2020, where he believes
he may have caught the coronavirus

After suffering a cough and a fever, Jackson Browne tested positive for COVID-19 and is recuperating at home in Los Angeles, California. The 71-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee believes he may have caught the disease while in New York City for the Love Rocks NYC benefit concert at the Beacon Theatre on March 12. He has quarantined himself and has reported that his symptoms have been mild.

Guitarist Larry Campbell, who was part of the house band at the same Love Rocks NYC concert, announced on April 3 that he suffered a cough and high fever before testing positive for COVID-19. The 65-year-old Grammy-winning producer, who also performs with his wife as Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams and also as part of the Midnight Ramble Band, told Rolling Stone that "for the past two weeks I’ve been struggling to stay alive. It really is that serious."

Marianne Faithfull is being treated for COVID-19 at a hospital in London, England. Her manager, François Ravard, issued a statement on April 4 announcing that the 73-year-old pop singer is "stable and responding to treatment." Faithful reportedly began medical treatment for pneumonia on March 29, can barely speak, and is not receiving visitors at this time.Faithfull's past health issues include a decades-long battle with hepatitis C, a brief bout with breast cancer in 2016, anorexia and substance abuse.

Numerous other musicians have announced their status on social media. Pop singer P!nk revealed on April 3 that she had shown symptoms of COVID-19, tested positive, sheltered at home, and finally tested negative. Sara Bareilles disclosed on April 2 that she contracted the coronavirus but has recovered. Opera singer Placido Domingo announced on March 22 that he experienced fever and cough symptoms, then tested positive for COVID-19, and now is isolating in self-quarantine. Gospel singer Sandi Patty posted on March 17 that she and her husband, Don, both tested positive and are under two-week quarantine. Ray Benson of country swing band Asleep at the Wheel posted on March 31 that he tested positive for the coronavirus. David Bryan, keyboardist in Bon Jovi, posted on March 21 that after testing positive he self-quarantined and is "feeling better each day." Chucky Billy, lead vocalist for the hard rock band Testament, announced on March 22 that he and several members of the band's crew are ill and have tested positive for COVID-19. Brandon Hoover, guitarist in metal band Crown the Empire, revealed on March 16 that his flu symptoms were diagnosed in a hospital emergency room as coronavirus. Singer-songwriter Charlotte Lawrence posted on March 18 that she was diagnosed with the coronavirus. Idris Elba, the Golden Globe-winning actor who is also a musician, reported on March 16 that he was exposed to COVID-19, self-quarantined, and tested positive, but shows no symptoms. Hip hop artists DJ Webstar, Scarface, Slim Thug, and YNW Melly, Broadway performers Laura Bell Bundy, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Aaron Tveit, and country singer Kalie Shorr are among the many other artists who also have reported testing positive for COVID-19.

Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien posted on social media on March 23 that he has been home for days with flu-like symptoms and that he "most probably" has the coronavirus. He has chosen not to test so that the scarce tests would be reserved for the "vulnerable in our community." 

See Everynight Charley Crespo's earlier report "COVOD-19 Takes the Lives of Local Musicians" at 
https://themanhattanbeat.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-takes-lives-of-three-local.html.

All photographs by Everynight Charley Crespo.