Terry Kirkman, the singer and songwriter best known for his work with the 1960s folk outfit the Association, has died, the Los Angeles Times reports. He was 83 years old.
Kirkman was born on December 12, 1939, in Salina, Kansas, and raised in Chino, California. He moved to Los Angeles in 1963 with his friend Jules Gary Alexander and briefly played in groups with Frank Zappa. Kirkman and Alexander formed a group called the Inner Tubes—which would eventually count Cass Elliott and David Crosby among its members and also developed into a 13-piece band called the Men.
After the Men dissolved in 1965, Kirkman and Alexander formed the Association with Russ Giguere, Ted Bluechel Jr., Brian Cole and Bob Page. Page would soon leave the group to be replaced by Jim Yester. The group became known for intricate harmonies with multiple singers.
The Association released their debut album, And Then… Along Comes the Association, in 1966. It featured the singles “Along Comes Mary” and “Cherish,” the latter of which was written by Kirkman and nominated for three Grammy Awards. In 2003, the group was named to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Kirkman left the band in 1972, returning when the Association reformed in 1979. He would leave again in 1984, retiring from the music industry and working as an addiction counselor. He also served as the clinical director of the Musicians Assistance Program, now known as MusiCares.
