Libby Titus, wife of Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, released two albums and worked closely with Carly Simon and Burt Bacharach.
Libby Titus, the singer-songwriter known for her song “ Love Has No Pride » and for having created the New York Rock and Soul Revue with her future husband Donald Fagen, died on the night of Sunday to Monday at the age of 77.
« My beautiful wife, Libby Titus Fagen, passed away on October 13th surrounded by her familyFagen wrote on the Steely Dan website. Please keep us in your thoughts and respect our privacy at this time. » The cause of death has not been communicated.
Libby Titus released two solo albums (both self-titled), in 1968 and 1977. Between these two albums, she worked as a backing vocalist and composer. She wrote “ Love Has No Pride » with Eric Kaz, song first recorded by Bonnie Raitt in 1972 for her album Give It Up, while Linda Ronstadt had a minor hit the following year with her own version (many other artists have covered the song, including Rita Coolidge and Daryl Braithwaite). She will also work with Burt Bacharach, Carly Simon and Dr. John.
Titus recorded his own version of “ Love Has No Pride ” for his second album and performed the album’s opening song, a version of “ Fool That I Am », during Saturday Night Live. She made this album with a roster of A-list collaborators: Carly Simon, Paul Simon, Robbie Robertson, James Taylor, Garth Hudson and Phil Ramone, among others, which speaks to the deep affection and admiration that it arouses in the world of music. This sentiment is also reflected in the various songs written in his honor, such as “ Libby » by Carly Simon (on which Titus also sang) and « Pretty Libby » Dr. John
In the late 1980s, Libby Titus became a concert promoter and impresario, enlisting her myriad friends and collaborators for special gigs at low-key restaurants and clubs throughout New York City. It was during these concerts that she met Fagen.
In an interview given in 2000 to Rolling Stoneshe remembers these concerts “ unofficial » : « I had produced these little shows put on by Tom Schiller, a wonderful writer, filmmaker and comedian, at this little Italian restaurant on 39th Street that seated 30 people. One night, for example, there was Dr. John and Carly Simon, and it was by invitation only. Another night I had Duke Ellington bassist Aaron Bell over, and that night Donald came, and he really loved it. In May 1989, he performed a concert for me with Dr. John at Elaine’s, and it was the first time he had performed in years. Donald didn’t want to perform, but I told him: “You have to do it, otherwise no one will come”! ».
The duo began hosting regular shows together, and the series eventually morphed into New York Rock and Soul Revue. With Donald Fagen as leader, the group included musicians like Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs and Phoebe Snow. He toured regularly and recorded a live album in 1991. This helped rekindle Fagen’s love of performing, leading him, along with Walter Becker, to resurrect Steely Dan a few years later.
In 1993, Fagen and Titus married. Fagen releases new solo album, Kamikariadwhich contains a song, “ Florida Room », which he co-wrote with her. In 2016, Fagen was arrested in New York following a physical altercation with Titus. They appeared to quickly reconcile, releasing a statement that read: “ Despite misleading press reports, we are happily married ».
Donald Fagen and Libby Titus never had children, but Titus had a son, Ezra, with her first husband Barry Titus (Ezra committed suicide in 2009), as well as a daughter, Amy Helm, from his long relationship with Levon Helm, the drummer of The Band, in the seventies. In 2019, Amy opened up about her mother in an interview with the Niagara Gazette : « She was a great composer… She’s one of those natural songwriters who didn’t really pursue that path. Maybe one of these days I’ll ask him to write me something I can sing. »
Jon Blistein
Translated by the editorial staff
