Dwight Twilley, Tulsa-Born Star Of ‘I’m On Fire’ And ‘Girls,’ Dies At 72
The leader of the Dwight Twilley Band, he went on to an extensive solo career from the late 1970s onwards.
Tulsa-born singer-songwriter Dwight Twilley, who had U.S. Top 20 hits with “I’m on Fire” and “Girls,” has died at the age of 72. The leader of the Dwight Twilley Band, he went on to an extensive solo career from the late 1970s onwards.
His death was confirmed by his wife Jan via a statement from Twilley’s longtime recording base at Tulsa’s Church Studio. It read: “He peacefully departed this world, surrounded by the love of his life, Jan, and close friends. The loss is immeasurable, and our words can’t capture the depth of our grief. Dwight’s musical prowess touched countless lives, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of many. We are profoundly thankful for the enduring musical legacy he has bestowed upon us all.”
Born on June 6, 1951, Twilley’s music career took root when he met drummer, singer, and guitarist Phil Seymour, forming the band Oister. The pair moved to Memphis, where they augmented their Beatles influences with elements of the time-honored Sun Records sound, then relocated again to L.A., where the Dwight Twilley Band signed to Shelter Records. They reached No.16 on the Hot 100 with “I’m On Fire” in 1975 and the lower half of the Top 200 album chart with Sincerely the following year.
A legal dispute with Shelter meant that their proposed second album was never released, but they relocated to Arista, reaching No.70 in the U.S. with 1977’s Twilley Don’t Mind, which featured backing vocals by Tom Petty. The frontman’s first solo album Twilley arrived in 1979, then Scuba Divers in 1982. There was a return to the singles chart with another No.16 hit, “Girls,” in 1984, from the album Jungle.
That was the end of Twilley’s mainstream chart visibility, but he continued to release albums, such as 47 Moons in 2005 and Always in 2014. Tulsaworld.com reports that Blondie drummer Clem Burke said in a 2018 interview: “When I think of Tulsa, I think of one of my favorite bands, the Dwight Twilley Band. They were a great band.” Twilley himself reflected in 2021: “Performing isn’t quite like finishing a song, because a song comes from absolutely nowhere. It’s invisible. It’s very magic.”
