Deacon Blue's James Prime Dies at 64

James Prime, founding keyboardist of Scottish band Deacon Blue, died on Thursday morning at age 64 after a short battle with cancer. Prime, who co-founded the band in 1985 and was also a university lecturer, had been hospitalized last week as his illness worsened. Deacon Blue announced his passing on social media, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support received by Prime and his family. The band also thanked medical staff for their compassionate care. Prime gave his blessing for the band to continue their planned UK and Ireland arena tour, which will proceed as scheduled starting in September. Prime’s death marks a significant loss for Deacon Blue and their fans, as he was a central figure in the group since its inception.