California folk singer loved by David Bowie dies alongside wife in house fire

Californian singer-songwriter Tucker Zimmerman has died aged 84 following a house fire.

The folk artist, who was beloved by David Bowie, died January 17 alongside his wife Marie-Claire Lambert at their home in Belgium.

Local news reported that the pair, who had been married for more than five decades, died of asphyxiation.

Zimmerman’s record label 4AD confirmed the news of his death.

‘It is with tremendous sadness we announce the passing of Tucker Zimmerman,’ they said.

‘He leaves behind an extraordinary collection of records, compositions, poetry and short stories created over a 60-year career.’

Zimmerman’s debut album, Ten Songs by Tucker Zimmerman, was produced by Tony Visconti and released in 1969.

Visconti, who went on to produce several of David Bowie’s albums, including Heroes and Young Americans, revealed Bowie was a big fan of Zimmerman’s work.

Singer-songwriter Tucker Zimmerman has died aged 84 following a house fire

The folk artist and his wife Marie-Claire Lambert died at their home in Belgium.

Paying tribute on Facebook, he said: ‘He was one of my oldest friends. David Bowie adored him.’

Bowie heaped praise on Zimmerman 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 wrote over 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 in July 2025.

Ten Songs by Tucker Zimmerman, Zimmerman’s debut album, was released in 1969

He also composed film music and compositions for symphonic orchestras

Zimmerman and his wife Marie-Claire, 81, 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.’