R.I.P.: Dick Halligan, Member Of Blood, Sweat & Tears

Dick Halligan

Dick Halligan, multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of Blood, Sweat & Tears, has died at the age of 78.

His daughter Shana confirmed Halligan’s death to People, noting that her father passed away Jan. 18 of natural causes.

Growing up in upstate New York, Halligan became enamored with big band music from the likes of Stan Kenton, Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller. In 1967 he was invited to join what would become Blood, Sweat & Tears by the group’s original saxophonist, Fred Lipsius.

"Halligan initially turned him down,” according to the statement shared by People, “but later changed his mind when they said they were going to California – a place Halligan wanted to see.”

Halligan played trombone on the band’s debut, Child Is Father to the Man, released in February 1968. The LP garnered only a small amount of attention, but it set the stage for Blood, Sweat & Tears’ breakthrough self-titled sophomore release.

Blood, Sweat & Tears spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 after arriving in December 1968, spawning three hit singles: “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” “And When I Die” and “Spinning Wheel.” Halligan’s impact was felt throughout the LP, as he provided trombone, organ, piano, flute and vocals on various tracks.

Blood, Sweat & Tears won the Grammy award for Album of the Year in 1970, and the opening song “Variations On a Theme by Eric Satie” – which Halligan arranged – took home the award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance.

According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Halligan co-wrote three songs for his final album with the band, Blood, Sweat & Tears 4, before departing in 1971. He then moved on to an impressive career second act, scoring film and television projects.