RIP: Jim Seals of Seals and Crofts Dead at 80

Jim Seals, one half of the soft-rock group Seals and Crofts, has passed away at the age of 80, according to CNN. The duo is remembered as one of the soft-rock greats alongside names such as Hall & Oates, America and Bread as well as England Dan & John Ford Coley.

Along with creative partner Darrell “Dash” Crofts, Seals became a staple of the 1970s music scene with songs like “Diamond Girl” and “Get Closer.” Their hit “Summer Breeze” has attained classic status and has been covered by Type O Negative and Mr. Bungle. The duo met during their teenage years in Texas, which is also where they’re both from, and began collaborating musically in the late 1960s. After splitting in 1980, they got back together briefly in 1991 and again in 2004 — the latter was to record their final album, Traces.

Close relative Brady Seals shared the news of his passing on Instagram:

Seals’ contemporary, John Ford Coley, paid a tribute on social media. He posted the following on Facebook:

Steve Miller of the Steve Miller Band also tweeted the following: