Mike Smith, the lead singer of the Dave Clark 5, passed away on February 28th, less than two weeks before the group was scheduled to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Smith’s supercharged vocals were part of the mix that brought the DC5 to the front lines of the British Invasion. The band charted 18 times on Keener beginning with “Bits and Pieces”, which peaked at number 2 on the WKNR Music Guide in April of 1964, and ending with “Everybody Knows” which had a?two week run in November of 1967. After the?DC5 broke up,?Smith?fronted his own band?until a freak accident in 2003 left him paralyzed below the ribcage. He was 64.?Smith was the second band member to pass, preceded by saxophone player Denis Payton, who succumbed to cancer in December of 2006.

More Links:
USA Today Appreciation?- AP London?- Rare Film Footage?- Susan Whitall’s Blog?-? Pat St. John Remembers?- Official Mike Smith Website?- DC5 Discography?- USA Today: Accolades finally arrive