Beloved Folk Singer Tucker Zimmerman and Wife Die in Tragic House Fire

Singer-songwriter Tucker Zimmerman and his wife have died in a house fire. The folk artist, who was beloved by David Bowie, died aged 84 alongside Marie-Claire Lambert, 81, at their home in eastern Belgium on Saturday. Local news reported that the pair, who had been married for more than five decades, died of asphyxiation. 'It is with tremendous sadness we announce the passing of Tucker Zimmerman,' his record label 4AD said on Monday. 'He leaves behind an extraordinary collection of records, compositions, poetry and short stories created over a 60-year career.' The Californian's debut album, Ten Songs by Tucker Zimmerman, was produced by Tony Visconti and released in 1969. Visconti, who later worked on several of Bowie's albums, including Heroes and Young Americans, revealed the late singer was a big fan of Zimmerman's work. Paying tribute on Facebook, he said: 'He was one of my oldest friends. David Bowie adored him.' Bowie heaped praise on the artist in 2003 when he declared Ten Songs by Tucker Zimmerman one of his favorite works. Speaking to Vanity Fair in 2003, he said: 'The guy's way too qualified for folk, in my opinion. 'Degrees in theory and composition, studying under composer Henry Onderdonk, Fulbright scholarship, and he wants to be Dylan. 'A waste of an incendiary talent? Not in my opinion. I always found this album of stern, angry compositions enthralling.' Zimmerman, who lived in Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse, near Liege, Belgium, wrote more than 800 songs in his lifetime. More recently, Big Thief served as producers and backing band on his album Dance of Love, released in 2024. His final album, Music by River Words by Ear, was released last July. Zimmerman and Lambert married in 1975 after meeting in Rome, Italy. They welcomed their son, Quanah, in October 1976. 'We've now been together for over 50 years,' Zimmerman said of his wife on his website. 'She's stood by my side thru thick and thin, storms and calm weather, rain, ice and heat waves. 'Without her I would be nowhere in the world except six feet under. Her love for me and her faith in what I do is beyond belief. She is my guide. She is my muse. She is my driver.' The couple are survived by 49-year-old Quanah.