Jim Seals Of Seals & Crofts Dead At 80

Singer/songwriter Jim Seals, one half of the hit making '70s duo Seals & Crofts, died on June 6th at age 80. Deadline reported his death was announced online by his cousin Brady Seals of the country band Little Texas, but no cause of death was given. Jim Seals is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ruby Jean; and children Joshua, Juliette, and Sutherland.

Upon moving to L.A., Seals, along with Glen Campbell and fellow Texan Dash Crofts performed in a latter-day lineup of the Champs — best known for their 1958 classics "Tequila." Seals also toured with the legendary Eddie Cochran. Seals & Crofts formed in 1969 and between 1972 and 1978, the folk-based duo scored eight Top 40 hits — including 1972's "Summer Breeze" (#6), 1973's "Diamond Girl" (#6) and "We May Never Pass This Way (Again)" (#18), along with 1978's "Get Closer" (#6). The duo featured Seals on guitar, sax, and violin with Crofts handling guitar and mandolin.

After being dropped by Warner Brothers in 1980, Seals & Crofts took the next decade off, reunited briefly in 1991 and released their last album together with 2004's Traces.

The duo's legacy continues on with Seals & Crofts 2 — featuring Jim's cousin Brady Seals and Dash Crofts' daughter Lua performing Seals & Croft classics along with new originals.

Seals' younger brother, the late-"England" Dan Seals, was part of the '70s duo "England" Dan & John Ford Coley, best known for their hits, "I’d Really Love To See You Tonight" and "Nights Are Forever Without You."

Both Seals & Crofts were strict followers of the Bahá’í Faith, which was developed during the 19th century in Iran and parts of the Middle East. Jim Seals recalled that the duo's religious beliefs figured heavily in all their music: ["We actually started performing as Seals & Crofts because of the material that had evolved out of the ideas from the Bahá’í Faith. So, our first, I guess, two or three albums were concepts taken directly from the Bahá’í writings. Of course, your viewpoint and your value system and everything changes and so, your insight into human affairs begin to change."] SOUNDCUE (:18 OC: . . . begin to change)