Ackles was one of my heroes." At the Troubadour John made a point of watching Ackles play every night. He was "flabbergasted" to discover that Ackles was far better known in England than in the United States, or even L.A. He dedicated 1970's Tumbleweed Connection to Ackles with the line, "to David with love." Almost thirty years later, though Ackles had not recorded since 1973, John said, "He's one of the best America has to offer." Ackles's songs were occasionally played by others. In 1968, Julie Driscoll & the Brian Auger Trinity had a minor UK hit with Ackles's song "Road to Cairo." This song was also recorded by Howard Jones in 1990 on Elektra Records' compilation Rubáiyát. Martin Carthy performed "His Name is Andrew," on the 1971 album Landfall, and Spooky Tooth's 1970 album The Last Puff included their version of "Down River," which the Hollies also released in 1972 on their album Romany. His first three albums were reissued in 1994 and again in 2000. The 1994 Elektra reissues generated modest sales and a number of praise-filled articles, which raised hopes that Ackles was on the verge of a new career as a rediscovered cult favorite. Not long before his death in 1999, there was a resurgence of interest in the UK. After his death, there were obituaries in several major British newspapers that eulogized Ackles's talent. Discography David Ackles (Elektra Records, September 1968) Subway to the Country (Elektra Records, January 1970) American Gothic (Elektra Records, July 1972) Five & Dime'' (Columbia Records, October 1973) References External links Official David Ackles Website Fan-Site with Lyrics and Chords 1937 births 1999 deaths American male singer-songwriters Singer-songwriters from California Elektra Records artists Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Deaths from lung cancer in California Singer-songwriters from Illinois People from Rock Island, Illinois 20th-century American pianists American male pianists 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singers University of Southern California alumni