Joe Blunt Of Legendary Doo-Wop Soul Group The Drifters' Dead At 74
Life-long D.C. resident and legendary doo-wop soul vocalist Joe Blunt died on March 26 at his Temple Hills home in Maryland.
He was 74.
A lead singer of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame group, The Drifters, Blunt earned the Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from Sony Music for his service in the industry and as a member of the group on Bell/Arista records.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Paula, and sons Darren, Brian, and Joshua.
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The classic R&B vocalist was also awarded a Gold Disc for his contributions to "The Drifters: The Very Best Of" compilation CD, which went on to certify Gold in the U.K. Blunt received the award at the O2 Arena in London, England.
"Joe was easy, in every way. He was always prepared and at the top of his game vocally and with his stagecraft," the group's manager Burke Allen told ENSTARZ in an exclusive statement. "He was so gracious and kind to his fans, promoters...everybody he came in contact with. He would treat the kitchen staff with the same respect he would treat the guy writing the check — I loved that about him."
Allen referred to Blunt as a "real wealth of music knowledge," describing him as a "great songwriter and vocal arranger" with a background in production and talent management, allowing him to understand every part of his esteemed craft.
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Described by his friends as the "epitome of cool and class," Blunt possessed a vocal range smooth as silk. Although the group disbanded, Blunt co-founded the group True Reflection.
Their debut album, 'Where I'm Coming From,' would go on to become a collector's item amongst classic soul music lovers all over the world. True Reflection has performed alongside other legendary artists including Al Green, The Ojays, The Isley Brothers, and more.
"Joe Blunt was more than a friend...he was my brother," Blunt's best friend of 70 years, Joe Coleman, told ENSTARZ exclusively. "His name will be added to the list of Drifters' Greats, like the legendary Ben E. King and Johnny Moore."
"I think that was a big part of his longevity in the business- Joe understood that being nice, which was his default setting, paid huge dividends," Allen continued. "I also think that the love he had for his wife Paula and his sons was a real steadying force for Joe; it was family first and they were all very supportive of him, as Joe was of them. I'll miss that twinkle in his eye."
Coleman concluded his statement, writing: "I know he's with the Heavenly Choir now. May He Rest in Peace!"
