Birmingham

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By Ian YoungsEntertainment & arts reporter

The Music world has been paying tribute to singer Terry Hall , remembering The Specials frontman as " truly One of The greats" who had " a heart of gold".

Hits like Ghost Town , Gangsters and Too Much Too Young soundtracked British life in The late 1970s and early 80s.

Tributes came from UB40, Boy George and his voice " was The perfect instrument for The true and necessary songs on The Specials ".

He added: " That honesty is heard in so many of his songs in joy and sorrow. "

Costello produced The Specials ' self-titled 1979 debut album.

The Band spearheaded The Two Tone and Ska scenes, and were groundbreaking for their multi-racial membership and how They used Pop Music to reflect an era of upheaval, unemployment and racial Tension .

: " The Specials were a celebration of how British culture was invigorated by Caribbean immigration but The onstage demeanour of their lead singer was a reminder that They were in The serious business of challenging our perception of who we were in The late 1970s. "

Hall's friend and biographer Paul Willo told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme The Singer " was The instantly recognisable voice of a generation".

" And he was a forthright character who stood up for what he believed in. Together with The Band , he was very vocal about racism and injustice in general, " he added.

" There was so much turmoil going on in The country at that time… With The Right material and The reasons to be angry, it made them more of a force and him more vocal, I suppose. "

Singer Frank Turner was born shortly after The Specials split up in 1981 but told Today their music remained relevant.

" It was talking about The fact that there are these tensions In Society , there are these things that are worth being angry about, there are these divides, and there are things that we can do about them, " Turner said.

" That was important and relevant in The early 1980s but for me as A Kid , it felt important and relevant and - I don't want to say educational - When I first started listening to them.

" And I think The relevance of The Music of The Specials and The Words and music of Terry Hall remain completely vibrant and important today. "

Those praising Hall and his influence ranged from singer-songwriters to pop stars and dance acts.

Electronic duo that Hall was " such an amazing singer" adding: " He sang about Real People and real issues. People I could identify with. Such a loss. A brave guy. "

The Specials were very important because They " made you feel alive" and Ghost Town was " a masterpiece".

" The Specials represent my youth, They represent everything about my teenage years, They were The Band that got us out of our homes and into The School discos & clubs! " he wrote.

Strength and sensitivity

" And [They ] turned us on to a trend that was an all encompassing movement of music and fashion Ska ! . The Specials gave you a sense of strength, while still allowing The sensitive side of artistry to run through your veins. "

Andy Bell of The bands Ride and Oasis also recalled The impact of The Specials ' songs and look.

" At 11 I suddenly wanted a Harrington [jacket] with red tartan lining, a Fred Perry shirt, black sta prest [trousers], white socks and black loafers with tassels, all because This Man 's music had swept through my school like Elvis in '56, "

" Those 2 @The Specials albums are Pure Genius . "

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described seeing Hall live at two Concerts - One in 1979 and another in 2022.

" Both times Terry Hall standing stock still at The centre of The Storm , a melancholy counter point to The joyous energy of The Band . Bringing The idiosyncratic and ironic songs to life beautifully. "

" A Man of few words verbally but so many great words in song" adding: " I always admired and envied his sweep of The pen. Take Care on The Steps above young man. "

Carole Donnelly, a friend of Hall's, told BBC Radio 5 Live: " He was kind, witty, but a very shy man. He was somebody who was so talented.

" For me he inspired you to overcome adversity and Hatred . . Turn your back On Hate and Turn that into love. That was The Thing that it was.

" He was a legend, and he's a legend in Coventry. It was a horrible time to be in The City but They gave us hope. I was in a mixed race relationship, The political landscape and music and lyrics gave us a voice as Young People . I was 16 When I met him, he was 18, we were angry young punks. We got To Love music and we brought that All Together and it's inspired so many generations of people. "

Happy Mondays singer Rowetta told The Station : " He just believed in everything and really With Passion . He wouldn't be singing lyrics he didn't mean with no feeling. He wrote lyrics that meant something.

" He really cared about people as well, his politics weren't just for The sake of it, he really meant it and wanted to help The World . He really did believe in that. Love, love, love. "

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The Specials came from Coventry, and Dave Wakeling of Ska band The Beat - from nearby Birmingham - Posted a photo of The pair playing football: " Cryptic, droll, a heart of gold, and he could tackle like a donkey!

" Always a proper gent to The Beat , our condolences to family and friends. "

: " Another One gone too soon! RIP Terry. "

They were " very sorry and shocked to hear The sad news about The lovely, and brilliant Terry Hall ".

Younger bands paying tribute included: " Thanks Terry Hall for all The Music , inspiration, and Being Kind to us When we were starting out. So sad. "

: " Absolutely heartbreaking. A True Legend has gone. "

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The Specials ' influence stretched across The Atlantic, with remembering how he had " been a fan of their music ever since seeing them perform Gangsters on SNL [Saturday Night Live] When I was 16".

He added: " It was a pretty exciting period for music and They were definitely a huge part of it. "

Source of news: bbc.com