Music legend and Hollywood star’s brother Larry Tamblyn dies aged 82-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

The Standells’ Larry Tamblyn, pictured here in 2014, has died (Picture: Mark Sullivan/WireImage)

Larry Tamblyn, singer and co-founder of 1960s garage rock group The Standells, has died aged 82.

He was also the brother of West Side Story actor Russ Tamblyn, and the uncle of his actress daughter Amber Tamblyn, best known for her role in The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants movies.

Tamblyn’s death was announced by his nephew Dennis Tamblyn on Facebook, who shared that the musician had died on Friday.

‘My uncle Larry Tamblyn passed away today. I have very fond memories of him and his family over the years,’ Dennis wrote in a post, alongside pictures of his uncle from throughout his life.

Talking about his ‘incredible life’, Dennis went on to highight The Standells’ biggest hit song, 1966’s Dirty Water, which is ‘still played to this day whenever the Red Sox or the Bruins win a home game’.

He added: ‘A few years ago, The Standells played at Hotel Congress here in Tucson and Larry stayed with me. It was so great to hang out with him and catch up. He was still making music well into his later years.

Tamblyn was the co-founder and lead vocalist and keyboardist for The Standells, whose biggest song was Dirty Water (Picture: Michael Ochs Archives)

‘You will be missed, Uncle Larry.’

No cause of death was revealed.

Born on February 5 1943, Tamblyn founded The Standells in 1962 alongside guitarist Tony Valentino, bass player Jody Rich and drummer Benny King, naming it after the periods he had spent standing around booking offices trying to get work.

Prior to the band, Tamblyn had been a young solo artist who recorded singles including Dearest, Patty Ann and My Bride To Be across the late 1950s and early ’60s.

After Rich and King left the band, they were replaced by Gary Lane and Gary Leeds (aka Gary Walker, later of the Walker Brothers) for its first official recording You’ll Be Mine Someday/Girl In My Heart in 1964.

Leeds then departed to be replaced by former Mouseketeer Dick Dodds, a drummer who became lead vocalist for the group and sang on all their biggest songs, including Why Pick on Me, Try It and Can’t Help But Lovin’ You.

The Standells performing on stage during the 1960s with their hit line-up: (from L) Larry Tamblyn, Gary Lane, Dick Dodd and Tony Valentino (Picture: GAB Archive/Redferns)

Dirty Water reached number 11 on the Billboard charts and the band was said to have inspired such groups as the Sex Pistols and Ramones with their sound.

Tamblyn appeared alongside the group as themselves in an episode of The Munsters on TV, as well as as a fictional group on The Bing Crosby Show.

They also popped up in several films during the 1960s, including Get Yourself a College Girl, Riot on Sunset Strip and Connie Francis vehicle Follow the Boys, which also co-starred Tamblyn’s brother Russ.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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