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We’ve tragic information to report from the world of music as we speak.
Glen Hansard — the Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame together with his position within the acclaimed 2007 movie As soon as — has handed away.
He was simply 56 years previous.
In line with a report from the Related Press, Hansard died early Wednesday morning in a single-vehicle bike crash in Lucan, on the outskirts of Dublin.
Emergency responders handled him on the scene, however he was pronounced lifeless shortly afterward. His household later mentioned they had been “deeply shocked and heartbroken” by the sudden loss.
For music followers around the globe, Hansard will perpetually be remembered because the soulful voice behind the band the Frames and the folks duo the Swell Season.
Nevertheless it was his position in As soon as — and the movie’s Oscar-winning music, “Falling Slowly,” which he sang with Markéta Irglová — that introduced him his biggest worldwide fame.
Lengthy earlier than Oscar recognition, Hansard had established himself as considered one of Eire’s most revered musicians.
He fronted the Frames for many years, serving to form the nation’s fashionable rock scene, whereas his work with the Swell Season and as a solo artist showcased a deeply private model that resonated with listeners worldwide.
His 2015 solo album Didn’t He Ramble earned a Grammy nomination for Finest Folks Album, additional cementing his fame as considered one of Eire’s premier singer-songwriters.
Away from the highlight, Hansard was broadly admired for his charitable work. For years, he organized an annual Christmas Eve busking occasion exterior Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre to lift cash for the Dublin Simon Neighborhood, which helps folks experiencing homelessness.
He additionally delivered a memorable efficiency of “Fairytale of New York” on the 2023 funeral of Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan, a tribute that grew to become one of many ceremony’s most unforgettable moments.
Tributes rapidly poured in following information of Hansard’s demise.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin described him as “a gifted musician and actor who made a major contribution to Eire’s cultural panorama over a few years,” whereas others praised not solely his inventive presents but additionally his generosity and dedication to serving to others.
Hansard is survived by his associate, poet Maire Saaritsa, and their youngster.
Our ideas exit to his family members throughout this enormously tough time.
