Singer had pop, country recording careers

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This article was published 27/03/2009 (6086 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dan Seals, who was England Dan in the pop duo England Dan and John Ford Coley and later had a successful country career, has died of complications from cancer. He was 61.

Longtime manager Tony Gottlieb said Seals, diagnosed with lymphoma two years ago, died Wednesday night at his daughter’s home in Nashville.

With England Dan and John Ford Coley, Seals had hits including I’d Really Like to See You Tonight and Nights Are Forever, both in 1976. His country hits in the ’80s and ’90s included Bop, You Still Move Me, Love on Arrival, and a duet with Marie Osmond, Meet Me in Montana.

“I’ve loved to play and sing from the moment I knew what it was,” he told the Associated Press in 1992.

Seals, who is survived by his wife and four children, was in hospice care when he died.

“He was very positive,” said Gottlieb, Seals’ manager for about 30 years. “He participated in several clinical trials to assist with research on this type of lymphoma.”

Gottlieb said a major misconception about Seals is that he was a pop singer who came to country music. In reality, he said, Seals grew up singing country music and crossed into pop.

Seals’ older brother, Jimmy, was the Seals in Seals & Crofts, who recorded the hits Summer Breeze and Diamond Girl in the 1970s.

Until Dan Seals got sick, the brothers were working as a duo, Seals & Seals. They were recording an album but never finished it. The songs they did complete, about eight in all, will be released.

— The Associates Press