Original King Crimson Songwriter Peter Sinfield Dead at 80

Peter Sinfield, best known for his King Crimson songs, has died at age 80. Over a storied career in prog, he also worked with Emerson Lake and Palmer and Roxy Music.

King Crimson and stalwart leader Robert Fripp both confirmed Sinfield's death. No cause was given but Sinfield was said to have been in declining health.

Sinfield was a do-anything figure during King Crimson's early years: He named the band, found their initial rehearsal space, served as King Crimson's original roadie and sound engineer, and operated the lights, as well. He also connected the band with his friend Barry Goldber, creator of the iconic cover image for their 1969 debut, In the Court of the Crimson King.

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He wrote songs and served as art director with King Crimson through 1971, while also co-producing the 1970 albums In the Wake of Poseidon and Lizard. Some of his best-known co-writes included "The Court of the Crimson King," "21st Century Schizoid Man" and the expansive title tracks from In the Wake of Poseidon and Lizard. But Fripp and Sinfield had begun to clash as Fripp moved to assume sole leadership of the group.

"He's an extraordinary chap and I have great admiration for him; I sort of love him in a way," Sinfield told Roxy Music biographer David Buckley. "I worked with him non-stop for two-and-a-half, three years, on the first four King Crimson albums. He takes a sort of unilateral stance on something – and I notice and I speak up, and the others don't. The other guys are all sweet and lovely, and perhaps I'm not as sweet or lovely, and thus say, 'Excuse me, this isn't right. is it?'"

Soon, the restless Fripp was ready to move on. He subsequently told Melody Maker that he "didn't feel that by continuing to work together we could improve on what we had already done."

Sinfield went on to produce Roxy Music's self-titled 1972 debut and their U.K. Top 5 hit single "Virginia Plain," before releasing his own first album. Still would feature Greg Lake, Mel Collins and Ian Wallace from past King Crimson projects – and John Wetton, who'd soon join Sinfield's former group.

Listen to 'In the Court of the Crimson King'

Peter Sinfield's Collaborations With Emerson Lake and Palmer

Sinfield's long association with Emerson Lake and Palmer began with a pair of co-written songs from 1973's Brain Salad Surgery, including "Karn Evil 9: 3rd Impression." He'd also contributed to Works Volume I and Works Volume 2 from 1977 and 1978's Love Beach. "I Believe in Father Christmas," a collaboration with Greg Lake, reached No. 2 in the U.K.

Into the '90s, Sinfield worked with Leo Sayer (1983's Have You Ever Been in Love), Cher (the title track from 1989's Heart of Stone), Cliff Richard (1993's The Album) and Celine Dion (songs from 1993's The Colour of My Love and 1996's Falling Into You), among others. He also collaborated with fellow King Crimson alumni David Cross on 1997's Exile and Ian McDonald on 1999's Drivers Eyes, before working on an anniversary rewrite of "21st Century Schizoid Man" with Fripp in 2014.

His favorite moment, however, may just have been a deep cut from that long-ago King Crimson debut. "I still like 'I Talk to the Wind,'" Sinfield later told The Independent. "It's about the young men we used to be in '69, struggling to wake up and wondering what to do with the day, as if nothing mattered and everything mattered at the same time. Does that sound bollocks? It's what it'll say on my gravestone. No, not 'bollocks'– 'I Talk to the Wind.'"

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Carl Weathers

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Henry Fambrough

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Mojo Nixon

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Richard Lewis

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Paul Martinez

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Phil Collins

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Bob Heil

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Jim Beard

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Eric Carmen

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Steve Harley

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Moscow Concert Hall Attack, 137 Victims

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Gerry Conway

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Joe Flaherty

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Chris Cross

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John Sinclair

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Keith LeBlanc

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Michael Ward

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Dickey Betts

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Mike Pinder

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Duane Eddy

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Richard Tandy

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Daniel Kramer

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Steve Albini

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Dennis Thompson

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Roger Corman

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Susan Backlinie

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David Sanborn

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John Barbata

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Charlie Colin

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Doug Ingle

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Brian Humphries

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Ed Mann

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Mark James

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Peter Collins

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Tom Fowler

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Joe Egan

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Carol Bongiovi

Jon Bon Jovi's mother, Carol Bongiovi, died on July 10, three days shy of her 84th birthday. "Our mother was a force to be reckoned with, her spirit and can-do attitude shaped this family," a statement from the Bongiovi family read. "She will be greatly missed."

Jerry Miller

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Abdul 'Duke' Fakir

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John Mayall

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Greg Kihn

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Jack Russell

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Jerry Fuller

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Sergio Mendes

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Screamin' Scott Simon

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Herbie Flowers

Bassist Herbie Flowers, who worked with Lou Reed ("Walk on the Wild Side") David Bowie (Space Oddity, Diamond Dogs), Elton John, Harry Nilsson (Nilsson Schmilsson and Son of Schmilsson), Cat Stevens and three members of the Beatles, died at 86 from unspecified causes.

Will Jennings

Will Jennings, a collaborator of both Steve Winwood's and Eric Clapton's, died in September at 80 years old. Jennings co-wrote Winwood's "Back in the High Life" and Clapton's "Tears in Heaven," among other hits.

Tio Jackson

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J.D. Souther

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Freddie Salem

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Cat Glover

Catherine "Cat" Glover, a former choreographer, singer, dancer and rapper for Prince, died in September at the age of 60. No causes were specified.

Kris Kristofferson

Singer, songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson died in late September at the age of 88. He collaborated with the likes of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Barbara Streisand, and his songs were recorded by Janis Joplin, Al Green, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and more.

Dave Allison

Dave Allison, the original guitarist for Anvil, died on Sept. 30 at 68 years of age. Allison played on the group's first five studio albums before leaving in 1989.

Johnny Neel

Johnny Neel, former member of the Allman Brothers Band, died at the age of 70 in early October. "Aside from being an amazing musician and singer, Johnny was one of the funniest people on the planet — a true character," Warren Haynes said in a social media post. "'Johnny Neel stories,' as we refer to them in our little chunk of the music world, are legendary."

Cissy Houston

Cissy Houston, the mother of singer Whitney Houston, died in October at age 91. The elder Houston worked as a backup singer to Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and others, as well as sang with her own group, the Sweet Inspirations.

Jack Ponti

Jack Ponti, the New Jersey-based producer and songwriter who worked with Bon Jovi, Skid Row and Alice Cooper died in October at 66 years old. In the late '70s, Ponti played guitar in a band called the Rest, which included a pre-fame Jon Bon Jovi as the singer.

Paul Di'Anno

Paul Di'Anno, who sang on Iron Maiden's first two albums, died in October at the age of 66. "Paul’s contribution to Iron Maiden was immense and helped set us on the path we have been traveling as a band for almost five decades," the band wrote on social media. "His pioneering presence as a frontman and vocalist, both on stage and on our first two albums, will be very fondly remembered not just by us, but by fans around the world."

Phil Lesh

Phil Lesh, co-founder and bassist for the Grateful Dead, died in October. He was 84 years old. "Phil Lesh changed my life," his bandmate Mickey Hart said on social media following the news. "There are only a few people you meet in your lifetime that are special, important, who help you grow spiritually as well as musically."

Teri Garr

Teri Garr, the actress best known for her roles in Young Frankenstein and Tootsie, died at the age of 79 in October after years of battling multiple sclerosis.

Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones, the 28-time Grammy winner and prolific producer behind Michael Jackson's Thriller, died in early November. He was 91 years old.

Tyka Nelson

Prince's only full sister, Tyka Nelson, died in November at the age of 64. Nelson released four albums of her own between 1988 and 2011, and announced her retirement from music in June of 2024.

Next: How King Crimson Set a New Standard With Their Debut Album