David Brigati has sadly passed away at the age of 85. Currently, no cause of death has been made public. David was best known for his work in rock and soul music during the 1960s, becoming one of the staples of the genre during his prime. He began his career as part of the Hi-Fives in the late 1950s, recording for Decca Records.
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However, it was his work with The Starliters that propelled him to national prominence. His first major hit came with the song "Peppermint Twist." Yet, it's David's work with the legendary Rascals that he's best remembered for. David's brother, Eddie Brigati, was the co-founder of that group.
"His genius flourished behind the scenes as a background singer and masterful voice arranger. His signature harmonies provided the lush soulful backdrop for the decade's greatest anthems, including "Groovin", "People Got To Be Free" "A Beautiful Morning" and "How Can I Be Sure,"" David's obituary read.
David frequently collaborated with The Rascals throughout his career. As such, he was eventually known as the "fifth Rascal."
Nevertheless, his career spanned beyond the 60s rock and soul boom. David also released music during the 1970s, with some songs being collaborations with his brother, Eddie.
David Brigati's Music With the Starliters Is Still Streamed to This Day
The rock and soul boom may be a thing of the past, but that doesn't mean David's work isn't still getting some playing time. According to Spotify, The Starliters are still receiving 4,000 streams per month on Spotify.
"Peppermint Twist Pt 1" is by far the band's most popular track on the streaming platform, being played over 3.8 million times. The alternative take version of the song has also drawn 2.1 million hits.
Nevertheless, it's The Rascals who are making a bigger splash in terms of longevity. The group is still pulling close to 500,000 monthly listeners, with "A Beautiful Morning" having been played over 25 million times. That song is one of David's most popular collaborations
According to his obituary, David's funeral will take place on Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Aloia Funeral Home.
