Beloved Australian singer and Eclection frontwoman Kerrilee Male dies: 'May your beautiful voice now sing with the angels'
Eclection frontwoman Kerrilee Male has died.
The '60s songstress, who came to fame as the frontwoman of the folk rock band, is said to have lived out her last days on Magnetic Island in North Queensland.
In a heartbreaking social media post, Kerrilee's broad musical history was retold in the wake of her death on May 12 by a Facebook user.
Kim Challands wrote Kerrilee had performed with Melbourne troupes such as The Driftwood Band and The Yarra-Yarra New Orleans Jazz Band, all by the age of 19.
She then went on to sing as part of a vocal trio in the Dave's Place Group and recorded two EPs with the Ray Price Quartet.
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In 1965, she appeared on the popular music variety show Dave's Place, hosted by legendary singer Dave Guard and featuring fellow singer-songwriter Judy Henske.
After moving to the UK from Melbourne in 1967, Kerrilee met Trevor Lucas, Georg Kajanus, Michael Rosen and Briton Gerry Conway, who formed the band Eclection.
In August 1968, Eclection released their eponymous album, which was met with a positive response in the music world, drawing comparisons to the likes of The Seekers and The Mamas and The Papas.
Aussie music journalist Lillian Roxon gushed about Kerrilee's vocals, saying: 'Her voice cuts into the brain like a carving knife.'
Soon, the band began playing festivals and gigs across Britain, releasing their second single—a rendition of Kaleidoscope's hit song Please (Mark II)—in October that year.
However, the same month, Kerrilee stepped back from the band and made her way home to Australia.
Her former bandmate Gerry said of the late singer: 'Once we started playing live, it was very soon apparent that Kerrilee didn't want to stay with it.
'I think she decided she didn't want to be in the music world.'
Kerrilee's cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Fans of the late songstress poured into the comment section of the post to share their condolences.
'Kim, what a wonderful tribute, well done and thank you for sharing Kerrilee's story,' one person wrote.
Another simply said: 'A beautiful tribute.'
'May your beautiful voice now sing with the angels, RIP Kerrilee,' another penned.
'Like birds, some people sing, not for fame or acclaim, but because its part of their being,' one fan sweetly wrote.
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