Manny Charlton, the founding guitarist of Nazareth who played on the Scottish rock band’s best-known records, including “Love Hurts”, its LP Hair of the Dog, and also produced early Guns N’ Roses demos, died today. He was 80. His grandson, Jamie Charlton, posted the news on social media with the caption “RIP Grandad.”
https://loudwire.com/founding-member-nazareth-manny-charlton-died/
Sadly I have to tell you that Manny Charlton tied on Tuesday (5th July) in Texas. There were no details available at the time of writing but I believe his death was sudden and not illness related.
Manny was there from the beginning of Nazareth so we all came up together through the tough times and through the wonderfully successful years as the band became an international acclaimed outfit. His contribution as a musician was immeasurable. Not only was he a team player who loved jamming for hours at a time with the band and then sifting through the tapes for even more hours just looking to find the tiniest unable idea, he was never happier than when he was sitting in the producer's chair making records and searching for that special 'racket' (noise) as he called it, that he as always trying to create.
He produced several other bands and found his 'racket' a few times along the way but the one he was most proud of was 'Love Hurts', one of the best sounding records of all time and one of the songs on his first album as a producer.
We had our ups and downs over the years but we never once disagreed about the music. I would like to offer condolences on behalf of the Nazareth family to Manny's own family… our thoughts are with you at this sad time.
Pete