P.F Sloan, who wrote hits for Barry McGuire (“Eve of Destruction”), Johnny Rivers (“Secret Agent Man”) and others, died Sunday (11/15), after having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer only a few weeks ago. From Rolling Stone
“Phil was a key element on the music that became the sound of the Sunset Strip. Phil was a true prodigy, signing his first record deal with Aladdin Records when he was thirteen,” Sloan’s reps said in a statement. “P.F. Sloan’s ‘Eve Of Destruction’ was an anthem for a generation. It is as relevant now as it ever has been.”
After recording his debut single “All I Want Is Loving” / “Little Girl in the Cabin” for the Aladdin Records label, the still-teenaged Sloan got a job with music publisher Screen Gems, who hired Sloan to work with surf rock duo Jan & Dean; Sloan is heard on that group’s 1964 hit, “The Little Old Lady From Pasadena.” Sloan then moved to Dunhill Records, where he penned hits for artists like Herman’s Hermits, the Turtles, the Searchers, the Grass Roots and Barry McGuire.
Rest in peace, Phil. Your songs live on. Listen to some of P.F. Sloan’s best-known songs, below…
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