Remembering the lives of King Crimson and Céline Dion’s lyricist Peter Sinfield (80) and 'trailblazing' dancer Eileen Kramer (110)
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The music world lost its luminary with the passing of Peter Sinfield, the poetic force behind the progressive rock band King Crimson and a songwriter who later found success in the pop realm with artists like Céline Dion.
At the age of 80, Sinfield's death marks the end of a remarkable career that spanned genres and generations, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire musicians and fans alike.
King Crimson, the band that Sinfield co-founded, announced his passing, paying tribute to his multifaceted role as the band’s 'original roadie, lyricist, lights operator and live sound engineer'.
The cause of death was not provided.
Born in London, Sinfield's early life was characterised by a bohemian wanderlust that saw him travel through Spain and Morocco.
His self-described role as King Crimson’s 'pet hippie' was a testament to his free-spirited nature and creative outlook.
Sinfield's partnership with the group’s multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald in the band The Creation laid the groundwork for what would become a legendary collaboration with Giles, Giles and Fripp, which eventually evolved into King Crimson.
Between 1969 and 1971, he named the group and co-produced and penned the lyrics for their first four albums—In the Court of the Crimson King, In the Wake of Poseidon, Lizard, and Islands.
His lyrics were a perfect match for the band's avant-garde sound, weaving mystical and psychedelic narratives while also addressing political themes with a sharp edge.
The visceral imagery of songs like '21st Century Schizoid Man' captured the tumultuous spirit of the times, with its lyrics saying, ‘Blood rack, barbed wire / Politicians’ funeral pyre / Innocents raped with napalm fire.’
After his departure from King Crimson, Sinfield's talents continued to shine.
He produced Roxy Music’s debut album and its iconic single 'Virginia Plain', and in 1973 released his only solo album, Still, featuring King Crimson’s Greg Lake.
His collaboration with Lake extended to providing lyrics for Emerson, Lake & Palmer, including the UK No 2 hit 'I Believe in Father Christmas'.
Sinfield's versatility as a lyricist was further demonstrated when he transitioned to mainstream pop music upon his return to the UK.
Partnering with songwriter Andy Hill, he wrote for acts such as Bucks Fizz, Five Star, Leo Sayer, and Abba’s Agnetha Fältskog.
His work with Bucks Fizz produced 'Heart of Stone', which later became a hit for Cher.
However, it was the 1994 power ballad 'Think Twice', recorded by Céline Dion, that became Sinfield's crowning achievement in the pop world.
The song's heartfelt lyrics and Dion's emotive delivery propelled it to the top of the charts, earning Sinfield an Ivor Novello award and cementing its place as a defining anthem of the 90s.
In his later years, Sinfield's creative output slowed, particularly after open heart surgery in the mid-2000s, and he turned his attention to poetry.
His appearance in the 2009 BBC documentary Prog Rock Britannia: An Observation in Three Movements was a nod to his enduring influence in the genre.
Sinfield retired to Aldeburgh in Suffolk, where he lived out his final years.
You can watch Peter Sinfield’s video on Prog Rock Britannia: An Observation in Three Movements below:
Credit: SongSoupOnSea / YouTube
The Australian dance community has bid farewell to one of its most luminous figures, Eileen Kramer, who passed away at 110.
Her life was a tapestry of artistic endeavours that not only shaped the landscape of modern dance in Australia but also exemplified a spirit that defied the conventional boundaries of age and creativity.
Born on a balmy evening in Paddington, Sydney, on 8 November 1914, Kramer's journey through the arts was remarkable.
Her peers have often remarked that her eleventh decade was her most creative, a testament to her unwavering passion for dance and the arts.
Eileen Kramer's peaceful passing at her home in Lulworth House, Sydney, on Friday at 4:45 pm, came exactly a week after her 110th birthday.
Her life was a chronicle of pioneering achievements and an enduring zest for life that inspired all who knew her.
Kramer's foray into the world of dance began in the 1940s when she joined the Bodenwieser Ballet, Australia's first modern dance company.
Her association with the company saw her tour for over a decade, during which she honed her craft and left an indelible mark on the art form.
Her creative spirit took her across the globe, from the jazz bars of Paris to the vibrant streets of Karachi and even to the bustling city of New York.
Along the way, she rubbed shoulders with legendary performers such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Marx Brothers.
At the age of 99, Kramer made the bold decision to return to Australia from America, ‘landing with nothing’ but a suitcase.
Her collaborator, Sue Healey, said Kramer was the oldest person in New South Wales and fifth oldest in Australia when she passed on.
‘Although age meant nothing to her…It was all about the spirit,’ Healey said.
‘She arrived back home with only a suitcase because she had spent her life travelling the world.’
‘She said that it was the sound of the kookaburras and the smell of the gum trees that she needed to come back to. It was quite by chance that we found her,’ Healey added.
Kramer's chance encounter with performing artist Shane Carroll, who ‘just sat next to her on a bench and got talking about being a dancer’, led to a decade of unwavering support and collaboration from a group of artists captivated by her spirit.
‘And as soon as we found her, there was a group of us that had been with her every day for the last 10 years. And extraordinarily, I think these…years for her have been her most creative,’ Healey said.
These years proved to be a renaissance period for Kramer, as she continued to choreograph, perform, write books, lead workshops, and even star in films, stage shows, and music videos.
‘She rewrote all the rules for centenarian behaviour, let alone being an older person,’ Healey shared.
‘It was all about creativity for her, and that’s what kept her going.’
Kramer's legal enduring guardians described her as 'a trailblazer, and true creative spirit’ who would be ‘dearly missed by those who knew her and those inspired by her across the world’.
‘Above all my experiences and professions of the past century, I remain, always, a Bodenwieser dancer,’ Kramer said at 108 years old.
The Bodenwieser Ballet was founded by Austrian choreographer Gertrud Bodenwieser, who had fled the rise of Hitler in Vienna.
The Bodenwieser Ballet, through its innovative approach, had 'completely altered Australian modern dance’, according to Healey.
Kramer's love for dance began at the age of 24 when she witnessed a performance by the Bodenwieser Ballet.
‘She was fairly late to dance. She was not trained at all, but she managed, after three years, to get into that company,’ Healey said.
Kramer will have her final performance as Eurydice on video in Healey’s premiere of her world Afterworld: A Requiem for Eurydice at the Sydney festival.
‘It’s about the transition between life and death, which Eileen talked about daily—she loved a good Greek myth, and this work is a requiem for her,’ Healey said.
You can watch Eileen Kramer’s video below:
Credit: Guardian Australia / YouTube
As we remember Sinfield and Kramer, we celebrate a life that was rich in artistry and imagination.
Their melodies and creativity will continue to resonate, ensuring their legacy lives on for future generations to discover and cherish.
Our hearts go to the families of Peter Sinfield and Eileen Kramer. May they rest in peace.
At the age of 80, Sinfield's death marks the end of a remarkable career that spanned genres and generations, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire musicians and fans alike.
King Crimson, the band that Sinfield co-founded, announced his passing, paying tribute to his multifaceted role as the band’s 'original roadie, lyricist, lights operator and live sound engineer'.
The cause of death was not provided.
Lyricist Peter Sinfield passed away at 80. Credit: Jomokun / Wikipedia
Born in London, Sinfield's early life was characterised by a bohemian wanderlust that saw him travel through Spain and Morocco.
His self-described role as King Crimson’s 'pet hippie' was a testament to his free-spirited nature and creative outlook.
Sinfield's partnership with the group’s multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald in the band The Creation laid the groundwork for what would become a legendary collaboration with Giles, Giles and Fripp, which eventually evolved into King Crimson.
Between 1969 and 1971, he named the group and co-produced and penned the lyrics for their first four albums—In the Court of the Crimson King, In the Wake of Poseidon, Lizard, and Islands.
His lyrics were a perfect match for the band's avant-garde sound, weaving mystical and psychedelic narratives while also addressing political themes with a sharp edge.
The visceral imagery of songs like '21st Century Schizoid Man' captured the tumultuous spirit of the times, with its lyrics saying, ‘Blood rack, barbed wire / Politicians’ funeral pyre / Innocents raped with napalm fire.’
After his departure from King Crimson, Sinfield's talents continued to shine.
He produced Roxy Music’s debut album and its iconic single 'Virginia Plain', and in 1973 released his only solo album, Still, featuring King Crimson’s Greg Lake.
His collaboration with Lake extended to providing lyrics for Emerson, Lake & Palmer, including the UK No 2 hit 'I Believe in Father Christmas'.
Sinfield's versatility as a lyricist was further demonstrated when he transitioned to mainstream pop music upon his return to the UK.
Partnering with songwriter Andy Hill, he wrote for acts such as Bucks Fizz, Five Star, Leo Sayer, and Abba’s Agnetha Fältskog.
His work with Bucks Fizz produced 'Heart of Stone', which later became a hit for Cher.
However, it was the 1994 power ballad 'Think Twice', recorded by Céline Dion, that became Sinfield's crowning achievement in the pop world.
The song's heartfelt lyrics and Dion's emotive delivery propelled it to the top of the charts, earning Sinfield an Ivor Novello award and cementing its place as a defining anthem of the 90s.
In his later years, Sinfield's creative output slowed, particularly after open heart surgery in the mid-2000s, and he turned his attention to poetry.
His appearance in the 2009 BBC documentary Prog Rock Britannia: An Observation in Three Movements was a nod to his enduring influence in the genre.
Sinfield retired to Aldeburgh in Suffolk, where he lived out his final years.
You can watch Peter Sinfield’s video on Prog Rock Britannia: An Observation in Three Movements below:
Credit: SongSoupOnSea / YouTube
The Australian dance community has bid farewell to one of its most luminous figures, Eileen Kramer, who passed away at 110.
Her life was a tapestry of artistic endeavours that not only shaped the landscape of modern dance in Australia but also exemplified a spirit that defied the conventional boundaries of age and creativity.
Born on a balmy evening in Paddington, Sydney, on 8 November 1914, Kramer's journey through the arts was remarkable.
‘Trailblazing’ dancer Eileen Kramer has passed away at 110. Credit: @eileenkramerdancer / Instagram
Her peers have often remarked that her eleventh decade was her most creative, a testament to her unwavering passion for dance and the arts.
Eileen Kramer's peaceful passing at her home in Lulworth House, Sydney, on Friday at 4:45 pm, came exactly a week after her 110th birthday.
Her life was a chronicle of pioneering achievements and an enduring zest for life that inspired all who knew her.
Kramer's foray into the world of dance began in the 1940s when she joined the Bodenwieser Ballet, Australia's first modern dance company.
Her association with the company saw her tour for over a decade, during which she honed her craft and left an indelible mark on the art form.
Her creative spirit took her across the globe, from the jazz bars of Paris to the vibrant streets of Karachi and even to the bustling city of New York.
Along the way, she rubbed shoulders with legendary performers such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Marx Brothers.
At the age of 99, Kramer made the bold decision to return to Australia from America, ‘landing with nothing’ but a suitcase.
Her collaborator, Sue Healey, said Kramer was the oldest person in New South Wales and fifth oldest in Australia when she passed on.
‘Although age meant nothing to her…It was all about the spirit,’ Healey said.
‘She arrived back home with only a suitcase because she had spent her life travelling the world.’
‘She said that it was the sound of the kookaburras and the smell of the gum trees that she needed to come back to. It was quite by chance that we found her,’ Healey added.
Kramer's chance encounter with performing artist Shane Carroll, who ‘just sat next to her on a bench and got talking about being a dancer’, led to a decade of unwavering support and collaboration from a group of artists captivated by her spirit.
‘And as soon as we found her, there was a group of us that had been with her every day for the last 10 years. And extraordinarily, I think these…years for her have been her most creative,’ Healey said.
These years proved to be a renaissance period for Kramer, as she continued to choreograph, perform, write books, lead workshops, and even star in films, stage shows, and music videos.
‘She rewrote all the rules for centenarian behaviour, let alone being an older person,’ Healey shared.
‘It was all about creativity for her, and that’s what kept her going.’
Kramer's legal enduring guardians described her as 'a trailblazer, and true creative spirit’ who would be ‘dearly missed by those who knew her and those inspired by her across the world’.
‘Above all my experiences and professions of the past century, I remain, always, a Bodenwieser dancer,’ Kramer said at 108 years old.
The Bodenwieser Ballet was founded by Austrian choreographer Gertrud Bodenwieser, who had fled the rise of Hitler in Vienna.
The Bodenwieser Ballet, through its innovative approach, had 'completely altered Australian modern dance’, according to Healey.
Kramer's love for dance began at the age of 24 when she witnessed a performance by the Bodenwieser Ballet.
‘She was fairly late to dance. She was not trained at all, but she managed, after three years, to get into that company,’ Healey said.
Kramer will have her final performance as Eurydice on video in Healey’s premiere of her world Afterworld: A Requiem for Eurydice at the Sydney festival.
‘It’s about the transition between life and death, which Eileen talked about daily—she loved a good Greek myth, and this work is a requiem for her,’ Healey said.
You can watch Eileen Kramer’s video below:
Credit: Guardian Australia / YouTube
Their melodies and creativity will continue to resonate, ensuring their legacy lives on for future generations to discover and cherish.
Our hearts go to the families of Peter Sinfield and Eileen Kramer. May they rest in peace.
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