Overview
- Publicist Eric Alper confirmed late Wednesday that Clayton‑Thomas died peacefully at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and that no cause of death has been disclosed.
- Clayton‑Thomas fronted Blood, Sweat & Tears from 1968, singing hits such as “Spinning Wheel,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” and “And When I Die,” and helping the band’s 1968 album spend seven weeks at No. 1 and win the 1970 Grammy for Album of the Year.
- He rose from a troubled youth marked by homelessness and time in custody to become a self‑taught musician who joined BS&T after Judy Collins recommended him to drummer Bobby Colomby; he also wrote the band’s signature original, “Spinning Wheel.”
- A memorial concert will be held at a later date with proceeds going to Peacebuilders Canada, and Clayton‑Thomas is survived by his daughters Ashleigh Clayton‑Thomas and Christine Graham.
- His career included decades of solo work, later‑life honors such as induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, continued recording into the 2010s, and long‑standing advocacy for restorative justice for youth.