Julee Cruise, the singer best known for collaborations with David Lynch and her time with The B-52s, has died at 65. In 2018, the singer announced through a Facebook post that she suffered from systemic lupus that affected her ability to stand or walk. The Guardian reported that this morning her husband, Edward Grinnant, revealed the news of her passing through a post on The B-52’s Facebook page that read:
Cruise’s voice, which had an ethereal quality, lent itself to Lynch’s surrealist work. Her first collaboration with Lynch was for the 1986 film Blue Velvet, with the song Mysteries of Love. In 1990, she appeared in the director’s Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Broken Hearted, an avant-garde concert, alongside Laura Dern and Nicolas Cage. Cruise played a character named The Dreamself of the Heartbroken Woman.
“For those of you who go back I thought you might want to know that I said goodby to my wife, Julee Cruise, today. She left this realm on her own terms. No regrets. She is at peace. Having had such a varied music career she often said that the time she spent as a B filling in for Cindy while she was having a family was the happiest time of her performing life. She will be forever grateful to them. When she first stepped up to the mic with Fred and Kate she said it was like joining the Beatles. She will love them always and never forget their travels together around the world. I played her Roam during her transition. Now she will roam forever. Rest In Peace, my love, and love to you all.”
Cruise’s biggest hit was Falling which was featured on Lynch’s 1990 murder mystery show Twin Peaks. The song was composed by Angelo Badalamenti with lyrics by Lynch. The instrumental version of Falling became the theme song of the cult-classic series. The vocal version of Falling appeared on the Twin Peaks soundtrack along with two other of Cruise’s songs: Into the Night and Nightingale. Before working together for Twin Peaks, Lynch, Badalamenti and Cruise collaborated on her 1989 album Floating Into the Night.
Cruise also made appearances on the series and follow-up film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me as a singer at the bar.
Cruise’s Musical Career
Cruise released four albums from 1989 to 2011. Floating Into the Night, her debut album, featured Falling. The song rose to international success, reaching number 11 on the US Modern Rock chart, number seven in the UK singles chart and number one in Australia.In the 1990s, Cruise became a member of the new-wave group The B-52s. She toured with them sporadically from 1992 to 1999, as a stand-in for vocalist Cindy Wilson.
In 2011, Cruise released her final solo album My Secret Life. In 2017, Cruise collaborated with Lynch again for Twin Peaks: The Return, with a performance of The World Spins. In 2018, Cruise released Three Demos an EP featuring the original demo versions of Falling, Floating and The World Spins. Cruise also worked with bands Hybrid and Delerium, and collaborated with Pharrell Williams for the Handsome Boy Modeling School song Class System.
Cruise died on June 9. She was 65.
