Jill Sobule, the award-winning singer-songwriter whose witty and poignant writing first attracted widespread consideration with the track I Kissed a Woman, died in a home hearth Thursday. She was 66.
Her demise was confirmed by her publicist, David Elkin, in an electronic mail Thursday afternoon. It was not instantly clear how the fireplace in Woodbury, Minn., began.
“Jill Sobule was a power of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our tradition,” John Porter, her supervisor, mentioned in an announcement. “I used to be having a lot enjoyable working together with her. I misplaced a shopper and a buddy at the moment. I hope her music, reminiscence, and legacy proceed to stay on and encourage others.”
Throughout her greater than three many years of recording, Sobule launched 12 albums that addressed such advanced matters because the demise penalty, anorexia nervosa, copy and 2SLGBTQ+ points.
Her first album, Issues Right here Are Totally different, was launched in 1990. 5 years later, she obtained widespread consideration for her hit singles, Supermodel, featured in the film Clueless, and I Kissed A Woman, which, regardless of being banned on a number of southern radio stations, made it into the Billboard High 20. The latter track’s light-hearded video featured mannequin Fabio as Sobule’s love curiosity.
Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud24:59Is it secure for trans artists to tour the U.S., and Canada’s contribution to dancehall
Montreal singer-songwriter Bells Larsen joins Elamin to speak about why he was compelled to cancel an upcoming U.S. tour on account of Trump-administration visa insurance policies that immediately goal trans individuals. His upcoming album ‘Blurring Time’ is out April 25. Plus, ‘Artwork of Dancehall,’ is a brand new e book by Main Lazer’s Walshy Fireplace, and it paperwork the style’s rise from the streets of Jamaica to the worldwide stage by means of the flyers and posters used to advertise native dancehall membership nights and road events. Elamin speaks with one of many e book’s contributors, Toronto-based dancehall archivist Sheldon Bruce, AKA Muscle.
Colorado live performance to be a tribute as a substitute
Sobule was recognized for taking management of her profession by fundraising so she might make her subsequent album. In 2008, after two main document firms dumped her and two indie labels went bankrupt beneath her, she raised tens of hundreds of {dollars} from followers so she might make a brand new album.
“The outdated form of paradigm, the place you’ve got at all times waited for different individuals to do issues, you’d have your supervisor and your agent,” she mentioned on the time. “You’d look ahead to the massive document firm to offer you cash to do issues and so they inform you what to do. That is so nice. I wish to do the whole lot like this.”

Sobule had reveals scheduled within the U.S. by means of October, in accordance with her web site, and was scheduled to carry out in Denver on Friday evening. As an alternative, there can be a casual gathering hosted by her buddy Ron Bostwick from 105.5 The Colorado Sound on the efficiency area the place attendees can “share a narrative or track,” in accordance with her publicist.
A proper memorial to rejoice her life and legacy can be held later this summer season.
“Nobody made me giggle extra. Her spirit and power shall be tremendously missed throughout the music neighborhood and past,” Craig Grossman, her reserving agent, mentioned in an announcement.
Artists who collaborated or toured with Sobule paid tribute on-line after her demise was introduced, together with Lloyd Cole, Tom Morello, Mocean Employee, Eels and members of Nada Surf and the Violent Femmes.
“Jill simply completed a tour with us a number of days in the past and was so lively and expertise. Our hearts are damaged,” the band the Fixx mentioned in a social media put up.
Staged off-Broadway musical
Born in Denver on Jan. 16, 1959, Sobule has described herself as a shy baby who most well-liked observing over collaborating.
She was recognized for enjoying dozens of reveals a yr and has described her stay performances as susceptible experiences. She mentioned she usually does not have a set listing 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 accordance with her web site. She appeared as herself in episodes of West Wing and Treme and in animated kind on The Simpsons in 2019.
She additionally starred in an autobiographical off-Broadway musical that originally premiered on the Wild Venture in New York in 2022 and contains songs and tales about her life.
“In a great way, I really feel like I am 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 have not performed my greatest but.”
She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Ellen Sobule, alongside together with her nephews and cousins.
Source link