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Subject: Willy DeVille has died

Written By: Henk on 08/08/09 at 3:48 am

Willy DeVille, lead singer of 1970's/1980's band Mink DeVille, has died in a hospital in New York on August 6, 2009 as a result of pancreatic cancer.

Willy DeVille (real name: William Borsay) was born on August 27, 1953 and formed his band Mink DeVille (originally named Billy DeSade & the Marquees) in 1974. Apart from one Top 20 hit in UK with "Spanish Stroll", the band never had any real chart successes in UK or US. Still, it was popular in other parts of the world, like Holland and Germany.
Mink DeVille was disbanded in 1985, and Willy continued to work as a solo artist until he fell ill in June 2009. He was married three times and has at least one son (Sean).

Here's an abbreviated discography (singles only) with chart positions as far as I could find them:


As/With Mink DeVille:
1977 | Spanish Stroll
1978 | Just Your Friends
1980 | Mazurka
1984 | Each Word's A Beat Of My Heart
1984 | Demasiado Corazon

As Willy DeVille:
1987 | Miracle
1988 | Storybook Love (w/ Mark Knopfler) The song was nominated for an Academy Award
1992 | Hey! Joe

Subject: Re: Willy DeVille has died

Written By: danootaandme on 08/08/09 at 4:39 am

I am sad to here about this.  I am a fan of Mink DeVille.  I could listen to "A Train Lady" and many others over and over and not get tired of them.  RIP Willy :\'(

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrjR59mWjak

Subject: Re: Willy DeVille has died

Written By: LyricBoy on 08/08/09 at 5:14 am

Was he related to C.C. DeVille, the guitarist for Poison?

Subject: Re: Willy DeVille has died

Written By: Paul on 08/08/09 at 7:59 am

Very sad to hear...

'Spanish Stroll' is one of those strange songs that almost everyone of a certain age (like me!) knows, but is not 100% sure either what it's called, or who performed it!

It's lowly British chart placing belies its popularity...

Subject: Re: Willy DeVille has died

Written By: whistledog on 08/08/09 at 9:03 am

This is very sad news :\'(

I love 'Each Word's A Beat of My Heart'.  It is a FANTASTIC song. 

Subject: Re: Willy DeVille has died

Written By: Henk on 08/08/09 at 9:08 am


Was he related to C.C. DeVille, the guitarist for Poison?


No, he wasn't. Both names are just artist names, not the real names of the artists.

C.C. DeVille = Bruce Anthony Johannesson
Willy DeVille = William Borsay

Subject: Re: Willy DeVille has died

Written By: Henk on 08/08/09 at 9:09 am


This is very sad news :\'(

I love 'Each Word's A Beat of My Heart'.  It is a FANTASTIC song.  


His sole Top 100 hit in the US of A, but sadly also about the only song of his that I can't find on YouTube. :(


BTW: I'm glad to see this thread getting some response, in spite of the sad occasion.

Subject: Re: Willy DeVille has died

Written By: whistledog on 08/08/09 at 9:56 am


His sole Top 100 hit in the US of A, but sadly also about the only song of his that I can't find on YouTube. :(


That's when you need to look beyond YouTube ;)
http://www.spike.com/video/mink-deville-each/2790790

I never would have known about Mink DeVille had it not been for another forum I had previously belonged to.  One of the administrators had told me about this guy who claimed to have an mp3 copy of every song to chart in the US Hot 100 during the 80s.  I looked into it, and it was a real claim, as for free, he mailed me a 26 CD-R set of every song, the Mink DeVille song being one of them.  It is a wonderful song

Subject: Re: Willy DeVille has died

Written By: Henk on 08/08/09 at 10:07 am


That's when you need to look beyond YouTube ;)
http://www.spike.com/video/mink-deville-each/2790790



Thanks, Jason! :) Wow, it's been ages since I last heard that song...

Subject: Re: Willy DeVille has died

Written By: ninny on 08/08/09 at 10:17 am

He did Storybook Love from Princess Bride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DboM8xYouqc&feature=fvw#

Subject: Re: Willy DeVille has died

Written By: JamieMcBain on 08/14/09 at 7:55 am

And the song, It's So Easy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqDwnT_HSXg

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