Andrew Gold 'Lonely Boy' Singer Dies Aged 59

ANDREW GOLD, the American singer-songwriter who enjoyed success in the 1970's with his hits 'Lonely Boy' and 'Thank You for Being a Friend', has died aged 59. ANDREW GOLD passed away at his home in Encino California on Friday (3rd JUNE 2011) from a suspected heart-attack, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Gold, who was also suffering from renal cancer, will be remembered primarily as a songwriter and session-musician. Shortly after finishing high school, he began playing in Linda Ronstadt's back-up band, and would later lend his guitar and piano talents to recordings by James Taylor, Carly Simon and Jackson Browne. Despite being considered a master musician by his peers, Gold never learned to read music. His mother, the singer MARNI NIXON said, "We gave him lessons on piano and guitar, but somehow he found it easier to just listen to something and play it by ear". Gold's father ERNEST GOLD wrote the ACADEMY AWARD-winning score for the movie 'Exodus', starring Paul Newman. Andrew's first hit solo single, 'Lonely Boy', reached No. 7 in the Billboard singles chart in 1977.

ANDREW GOLD is survived by his wife Leslie Kogan, his mother, two sisters Martha Carr and Melani Gold Friedman, and his daughters Emily, Victoria and Olivia from his marriage to VANESSA GOLD.

This article has been corrected - we originally stated that Andrew Gold died on (10th May 2011) when in fact it was (3rd JUNE 2011).