English Rock and Pop Singer, Wayne Fontana Has Passed Away

Wayne Fontana Death – Dead: English rock and pop singer, best known for the 1965 hit “Game of Love” with the Mindbenders Mr. Glyn G Ellis, also known as Wayne Fontana has passed away. Wayne Fontana was reported to have died today August 6 2020. According to reports from sources the singer died from cancer. He died at the age of 74.

Tributes Floods Twitter

“It is with sadness that I report tonight Mr. Glyn G Ellis, also known as Wayne Fontana has passed away. Rest in peace sir. Heavens band is a lot more lively this evening!” Posted by a fan. I knew Glyn as his brother Tony was a neighbour. Tony & daughter Lisa also sing.

— Rosetta Ceesay (@battifund1) August 6, 2020

Hearing reports that #WayneFontana has died. He was one of the first acts they I thought was “mine,” loved his work with #TheMindbenders & solo songs too. #PamelaPamela was one of my adolescent favourites. Met him a few times & he was a lovely man. #RIPGlynEllis @fontanauk 🎸 https://t.co/E9v7rBV45e

— Custodian Enstone (@CustodianEnsto1) August 6, 2020

RIP Wayne Fontana .. such a character & still had such a great voice. Will be sadly missed on the 60s circuit 😢

— Julie Ann Hart (@JulieAnnHart4) August 6, 2020

Just heard the news we have lost another great performer in Wayne Fontana. I loved having him on the 60s Gold tours. Always friendly and up for a chat R.I.P Wayne. pic.twitter.com/VRaH6yvQ5e

— Scott Ottaway (@ScottOttaway) August 6, 2020

R.I.P. Wayne FONTANA, b. Glyn Geoffrey Ellis (1945-2020), English rock and pop singer, best known for the 1965 hit “Game of Love” with the Mindbenders.@fontanauk pic.twitter.com/V08n1R8BS9

— In__Memoriam (@In___Memoriam) August 6, 2020

Few Things You Need To Know About Wayne Fontana

Wayne Fontana was born in Levenshulme, Manchester, Lancashire, and took his stage name from Elvis Presley’s drummer, D. J. Fontana. In June 1963 he formed his backing group, The Mindbenders, and secured a recording contract with, coincidentally, Fontana Records. With the band, Wayne Fontana released his biggest single “The Game of Love” and after several less successful singles he left the band in October 1965.

Fontana remained under contract to the label after parting with The Mindbenders and soldiered on alone, using musicians working under the name of the Opposition, notably Frank Renshaw (lead guitar) (born 22 June 1943, Wythenshawe, Manchester), Bernie Burns (drums), Stuart Sirret (bass), and Phil Keen (drums), among others. Sometimes the band was billed as The Mindbenders, sometimes just as the Wayne Fontana Band.

Struggling to achieve chart success, Fontana recorded a number of songs by outside writers with B-sides being mostly his own compositions. Fontana’s biggest solo single, “Pamela, Pamela”, written by Graham Gouldman, reached #5 in Australia’s Kent Music Report and #11 in the UK Singles Chart early in 1967. It was his last single to chart in the UK. The later singles included another Gouldman composition, “The Impossible Years”. After a streak of flopped releases, Fontana took a break in 1970.

In 1973, trying to re-launch his career, Wayne Fontana recorded yet another Gouldman song, “Together”. It was backed with an original song, “One-Man Woman”, that was co-produced with Eric Stewart, am ex-bandmate from The Mindbenders. The single failed to chart.