Julee Cruise on Twin Peaks

Julee Cruise, the singer whose ethereal vocals–along with Angelo Badalamenti–helped shape David Lynch’s Twin Peaks‘ and Blue Velvet‘s enigmatic soundtracks, has died aged 65.

Her husband Edward Grinnant shared that his wife died in a post on The B-52’s Facebook page (Cruise served as a touring member of The B-52’s from ’92-’99).

He wrote, “For those of you who go back I thought you might want to know that I said goodby to my wife, Julee Cruise, today. She left this realm on her own terms. No regrets. She is at peace. Having had such a varied music career she often said that the time she spent as a B filling in for Cindy while she was having a family was the happiest time of her performing life.” He continued to write, “She will be forever grateful to them. When she first stepped up to the mic with Fred and Kate she said it was like joining the Beatles. She will love them always and never forget their travels together around the world. I played her Roam during her transition. Now she will roam forever. Rest In Peace, my love, and love to you all.”

Apart from her work in The 52’s in the ’90s, Cruise was known and beloved for her work with Lynch and Badalamenti, her atmospheric, diaphanous vocals are found on several songs on the original Twin Peaks soundtrack and on “Mysteries of Love” which serves as the score during the final since of Lynch’s 1986 neo-noir mystery, Blue Velvet.

Her most revered work with Lynch came in the form of the vocal version of the Twin Peaks‘ theme song, “Falling,” which went on to sell over 500,000 copies. She also made on-screen appearances on the show as a singer at the Roadhouse, and later for an episode of the show’s reboot in 2017 Twin Peaks: The Return.

Together with Lynch and Badalamenti, Cruisecreated two studio albums Floating in the Night (1989) and The Voice of Love (1993).

The cause of death has not yet been disclosed, however, according to the Guardian Cruise was diagnosed with lupus in 2018 and complained of chronic pain.