Bassist Fred Smith of Television passed away on Thursday at the age of 77 due to unspecified causes.

The announcement was made on the band’s Instagram page. Jimmy Rip, who has been the guitarist for Television since the departure of co-founder Richard Lloyd in 2007, mentioned in his own post that Smith had battled an unspecified illness “long and hard these last few years.”

Smith became a member of Television in 1975 and contributed to all three of their studio albums, including the acclaimed 1977 album Marquee Moon. Before joining Television, Smith was also the founding bassist for Blondie, leaving the group before they began recording.

Read More: The Story of Television’s Masterpiece, ‘Marquee Moon’

Despite their records not achieving significant sales, Television is regarded as one of the most influential bands of the punk and new wave movements that emerged from New York City and CBGB in the 1970s, alongside groups like Talking Heads, Blondie, and the Ramones.

“For anyone who appreciates melodic bass lines and counterpoint, Fred’s effortless creations serve as a masterclass,” Rip stated in his Instagram tribute. “He was a natural — never flashy, always essential — always serving the song in ways that only the greatest musicians can.”

After Television disbanded in 1978, Smith contributed to solo projects by fellow band members Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd.

In 1992, Smith reunited with Television, leading to the release of their third and final studio album and subsequent sporadic tours over the next thirty years. The band’s career appeared to conclude with the passing of singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter Verlaine in 2023.

In 1999, Smith and his wife Paula Cereghino started a wine-making venture from their New York City apartment. A few years later, they relocated upstate and opened the Cereghino Smith artisanal winery in 2007.

Television