Goodbye to Glen Hansard, the voice of Falling Slowly

The Oscar-winning Irish musician and actor Glen Hansardstar of the 1991 cult film “The Commitments”, died today, according to his agent, in a motorcycle accident. “With broken hearts we announce the passing of Glen Hansard in the early hours of this morning,” his agency said, ATC Managementin a post on Hansard’s website. Family and friends of the 56-year-old “are still processing the news”, added the agent, without specifying the cause of death.

The Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened” by the news. Hansard was “a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to the Irish cultural landscape over many years,” Martin added.

The incident in Dublin

Irish police said they were seeking witnesses following “a fatal single-vehicle crash” in Dublin, a motorcycle. “The motorcyclist, a man in his fifties, was treated at the scene but died shortly afterwards,” police concluded.

Da Ballymun ai Frames

Hansard has achieved international recognition during his thirty-year career in film, music and film production. Born in Ballymun, Dublin, in April 1970, Hansard began playing music at a very young age, performing on the streets of Dublin and founding the band The Frames in 1990. With Hansard as singer, guitarist and songwriter, Frames have become one of the most popular bands on the Irish music scene.

The musical comedy “The Commitments”, directed by Alan Parker and based on a book by Roddy Doyle, tells the story of a soul band from Dublin. Hansard played Outspan Foster, a lanky guitarist with unkempt red hair, recruited by music enthusiast Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) who dreams of forming a band to play soul classics from the ’50s and ’60s. The film, enjoyable and with an engaging soundtrack, won over the public, winning four BAFTAs and receiving Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

L’Oscar per Falling Slowly

In 2007, Hansard won a Oscar with the Czech musician Marketa Irglova for the song “Falling Slowly”, co-written and taken from the Irish romantic film “Once”, directed by John Carney. Set in Dublin, the film sees Hansard as a street musician who meets his colleague Irglova, with whom he shares a passion for music. Hansard has also had a brilliant solo career, with several Grammy nominations.