Music legend and Hollywood star’s brother Larry Tamblyn dies aged 82
His family has paid tribute.
Larry Tamblyn, singer and co-founder of 1960s garage rock group The Standells, has died aged 82.
He was also the brother of West Side Story actor Russ Tamblyn, and the uncle of his actress daughter Amber Tamblyn, best known for her role in The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants movies.
Tamblyn’s death was announced by his nephew Dennis Tamblyn on Facebook, who shared that the musician had died on Friday.
‘My uncle Larry Tamblyn passed away today. I have very fond memories of him and his family over the years,’ Dennis wrote in a post, alongside pictures of his uncle from throughout his life.
Talking about his ‘incredible life’, Dennis went on to highlight The Standells’ biggest hit song, 1966’s Dirty Water, which is ‘still played to this day whenever the Red Sox or the Bruins win a home game’.
He added: ‘A few years ago, The Standells played at Hotel Congress here in Tucson and Larry stayed with me. It was so great to hang out with him and catch up. He was still making music well into his later years.
Tamblyn was the co-founder, keyboardist and sometime-singer for The Standells, whose biggest song was Dirty Water (Picture: Michael Ochs Archives)‘You will be missed, Uncle Larry.’
No cause of death was revealed.
Born on February 5 1943, Tamblyn founded The Standells in 1962 alongside guitarist Tony Valentino, bass player Jody Rich and drummer Benny King, naming it after the periods he had spent standing around booking offices trying to get work.
Prior to the band, Tamblyn had been a young solo artist who recorded singles including Dearest, Patty Ann and My Bride To Be across the late 1950s and early ’60s.
After Rich and King left the band, they were replaced by Gary Lane and Gary Leeds (aka Gary Walker, later of the Walker Brothers) for its first official recording You’ll Be Mine Someday/Girl In My Heart in 1964.
Leeds then departed to be replaced by former Mouseketeer Dick Dodds, a drummer who became lead vocalist for the group and sang on all their biggest songs, including Why Pick on Me, Try It and Can’t Help but Love You.
The Standells performing on stage during the 1960s with their hit line-up: (from L) Larry Tamblyn, Gary Lane, Dick Dodd and Tony Valentino (Picture: GAB Archive/Redferns)Dirty Water reached number 11 on the Billboard charts and the band was said to have inspired such groups as the Sex Pistols and Ramones with their sound.
Tamblyn appeared alongside the group as themselves in an episode of The Munsters on TV, as well as as a fictional group on The Bing Crosby Show.
They also popped up in several films during the 1960s, including Get Yourself a College Girl, Riot on Sunset Strip and Connie Francis vehicle Follow the Boys, which also co-starred Tamblyn’s brother Russ, who was Oscar nominated for Peyton Place and also appeared in musicals including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Tom Thumb.
Dodd left the band in 1968, with The Standells continuing to play over the years with a varying line-up.
The group kept going during the 1960s, appearing in films and on TV shows too, as well as over the following decades with various line-ups (Picture: GAB Archive/Redferns)Tamblyn and a version of the band reformed in 2009, going out on an international tour the following year, which included their first-ever show in the UK the following year.
Their final album Bump was released in 2013, 46 years after their last one, Try It, and in 2014 The Standells undertook their first national tour of the US since the 1960s.
Tamblyn was inducted into the California Music Hall of Fame in December 2023, introduced and officially inducted by his actor brother Russ.
Many fans have paid tribute to the music star following the announcement of his death.
Tamblyn was the younger brother of West Side Story star Russ Tamblyn, 90, and uncle to his actress daughter Amber Tamblyn (Picture: Getty)‘Very saddened to hear about the passing of Larry Tamblyn of The Standells. Fabulous keyboardist and sometimes lead singer. We’re glad to have met him a couple of years ago. Rock on Larry, thank you for the music,’ shared psychedelic rock group The Striped Bananas on X.
‘I’m so sorry for your loss, Dennis,’ posted Susan Lane Stokes on Facebook to Tamblyn’s nephew. ‘Your family is full of talent, and you are carrying that forward so beautifully!’
‘Terribly sad news. I’ve enjoyed knowing him here on Facebook for many years. A wonderful and very talented man,’ added Cheryl Mulholland.
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