Jill Sobule, the award-winning singer-songwriter whose witty and poignant writing first attracted widespread consideration with the gay-themed music “I Kissed a Lady,” died in a home fireplace Thursday. She was 66.
Her demise was confirmed by her publicist, David Elkin, in an e mail Thursday afternoon. It was not instantly clear how the hearth in Woodbury, Minnesota, began.
“Jill Sobule was a pressure of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our tradition,” John Porter, her supervisor, mentioned in a press release. “I used to be having a lot enjoyable working along with her. I misplaced a shopper & a good friend at the moment. I hope her music, reminiscence, & legacy proceed to reside on and encourage others.”
Throughout her greater than three many years of recording, Sobule launched 12 albums that addressed such complicated matters because the demise penalty, anorexia nervosa, copy and LGBTQ+ points.
Her first album, “Issues Right here Are Totally different,” was launched in 1990. 5 years later, she acquired widespread consideration for her hit singles, “Supermodel,” from the film “Clueless,” and “I Kissed A Lady,” which, regardless of being banned on a number of southern radio stations, made it into the Billboard Prime 20.
She additionally starred in an autobiographical off-Broadway musical that originally premiered on the Wild Challenge in New York in 2022 and contains songs and tales about her life.
Sobule was identified for taking management of her profession by fundraising so she may make her subsequent album. In 2008, after two main document corporations dumped her and two indie labels went bankrupt beneath her, she raised tens of hundreds of {dollars} from followers so she may make a brand new album.
“The outdated form of paradigm, the place you’ve at all times waited for different folks to do issues, you’d have your supervisor and your agent,” she mentioned on the time. “You’d look ahead to the large document firm to offer you cash to do issues and so they inform you what to do. That is so nice. I need to do every little thing like this.”
Sobule was scheduled to carry out in Denver on Friday night time. As a substitute, there can be a casual gathering hosted by her good friend Ron Bostwick from 105.5 The Colorado Sound on the efficiency area the place attendees can “share a narrative or music,” in line with her publicist.
A proper memorial to have a good time her life and legacy can be held later this summer time.
“Nobody made me chortle extra. Her spirit and power shall be enormously missed inside the music neighborhood and past,” Craig Grossman, her reserving agent, mentioned in a press release.
Born in Denver, Colorado, on Jan. 16, 1959, she has described herself as a shy youngster who most popular observing over taking part.
Sobule was identified for taking part in dozens of reveals a yr and has described her reside performances as weak experiences. She mentioned she typically doesn’t have a set record and wings it.
She’s carried out with such icons as Neil Younger, Billy Bragg and Cyndi Lauper, and in addition inducted Neil Diamond into the Songwriter’s Corridor of Fame, in line with her web site. She additionally sang a music as herself on an episode of “The Simpsons” in 2019.
“In a great way, I really feel like I’m nonetheless a rookie,” she informed The Related Press in 2023 in an interview about her musical. “There’s a lot extra to do and I haven’t executed my finest but.”
She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Ellen Sobule, alongside along with her nephews and cousins.
