the British-born Fleetwood Mac vocalist, songwriter and keyboard player whose cool, soulful contralto helped define such classics as 鈥淵ou Make Loving Fun,鈥� 鈥淓verywhere鈥� and 鈥淒on鈥檛 Stop,鈥� has died at age 79.
Her death was announced Wednesday on the band鈥檚 social media accounts. No cause of death or other details were immediately provided, but a family statement said she 鈥減assed away peacefully at hospital this morning鈥� with family around her after a 鈥渟hort illness.鈥�
鈥淪he was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure,鈥� the band鈥檚 statement reads in part.
McVie was a steady presence and personality for its frequent lineup changes and volatile personalities 鈥� notably fellow singer-songwriters and
Fleetwood Mac started out as a London blues band in the 1960s, and evolved into one of the defining makers of 1970s California pop-rock, with the combined talents of McVie, Nicks and Buckingham anchored by the rhythm section of founder Mick Fleetwood on drums and John McVie on bass.
During its peak commercial years, from 1975-80, the band sold tens of millions of records and was an ongoing source of fascination for fans as it transformed personal battles into melodic, compelling songs. McVie herself had been married to John McVie, and their breakup 鈥� along with the split of Nicks and Buckingham 鈥� was famously documented on the 1977 release 鈥淩umours,鈥� among the bestselling albums of all time.
Fleetwood Mac was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. The group鈥檚 many other hit singles included Nicks鈥� 鈥淒reams,鈥� Buckingham鈥檚 鈥淕o Your Own Way鈥� and McVie鈥檚 鈥淟ittle Lies.鈥� One of McVie鈥檚 most beloved works, the thoughtful ballad 鈥淪ongbird,鈥� was a showcase for her in concert and covered by Willie Nelson, among others.
McVie, born Christine Perfect in Bouth, Lancashire, had been playing piano since childhood, but set aside her classical training once she heard early rock records by Fats Domino and others.
While studying at the Moseley School of Art, she befriended various members of Britain鈥檚 emerging blues scene and, in her 20s, joined the band Chicken Shack as a singer and piano player. Among the rival bands she admired was Fleetwood Mac, which then featured the talents of along with the rhythm section of Fleetwood and McVie. By 1970, she had joined the group and married John McVie.
Few bands succeeded so well as Fleetwood Mac, against such long odds. Green was among the many performers who left the group, and at various times Fleetwood Mac seemed on the verge of ending, or fading away. More recently, replaced on tour by Mike Campbell and Neil Finn.
McVie herself left for years, only to return for good in 2014.
