Sandra Anne Dillon

Sandra Anne Dillon passed away on August 4 in London, England at age 62. The daughter of Edward James Dillon (deceased 2000) and Barbara Louise Dillon (Sampson), she was born May 19, 1960 in Cohasset, MA. A singer, songwriter and musician, Sandy was a gifted pianist with a unique voice and incredible passion for her art.

Starting at age 7, when she first began piano lessons, music was a part of Sandy’s life. She played through her time at Cohasset high school, where she graduated early in 1977. She graduated cum laude with a degree in Composition from Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1980 before moving to New York City to begin her career.

Sandy started her career playing piano in bars before landing the part of Janis Joplin in the Dick Clark’s Broadway musical “Rock’n Roll! The First 5,000 years”. There, she was spotted by former David Bowie manager Tony Defries. She signed a contract with Elektra records and Defries moved her to London soon afterwards where she lived and created music ever since.

She signed a contract with One Little Indian records in England where she produced and played on the albums “Nobody’s Sweetheart”,” Pull the Strings”, “Living in Dreams” “Electric Chair”, East Overshoe” and “Shoreline”. Sandy described her music as “jazz-punk western blues,” and was not afraid of being different. She could make an instrument out of anything, often incorporating homemade instruments to create unique sounds for her music.

She continued to produce albums, playing with her late partner, guitarist Ray Majors, and toured Europe with her own band. She was inseparable from Ray, the love of her life for the last 22 years, and the two passed away within hours of each other.

Sandy leaves her mother, Barbara Dillon, two brothers, Peter Dillon and his wife Donna, Doug Dillon and his wife Lee, four nephews and one niece, Ryan, Kevin, Michael, Kelsey and William Dillon.

Sandy will be buried in Cohasset in a private family ceremony. A celebration of her life will be held September 10th at 11:AM at the Second Congregational Church in Cohasset. MA   Donations in her memory may be made to the PRS Members Fund based in London supporting musicians at https://www.prsmembersfund.com/donate/ .

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