Max Merritt

Maxwell James Merritt[1] (30 April 1941[2] – 24 September 2020) was a New Zealand-born singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was known as an interpreter of soul music and R&B.[3]

As leader of Max Merritt & The Meteors his best known hits are "Slippin' Away", which reached No. 2 on the 1976 Australian singles charts, and "Hey, Western Union Man" which reached No. 13.[4] Merritt rose to prominence in New Zealand from 1958 and relocated to Sydney, Australia, in December 1964.[3][5][6][5][6][7]

In 2008, he was hospitalized with kidney failure and was diagnosed with godpasture syndrome. Merritt died from the disease on 24 September 2020 in Los Angeles, aged 79.[8]

References

  1. ""Slippin' Away" entry at Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)". APRA. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  2. "Max Merritt – the legend". Max Merrit.com.au. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Max Merritt & The Meteors". Milesago. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. 5.0 5.1 McFarlane, Ian (1999). Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Nimmervoll, Ed. "Max Merritt and the Meteors". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  7. "Max Merritt" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  8. Lars Brandle (September 25, 2020). "Max Merritt, ARIA Hall of Fame Inductee, Dies at 79". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2020.