Remembering Adam Schlesinger: Watch Fountains Of Wayne’s ‘Tiny Desk Concert’

Today is the anniversary of Adam Schlesinger’s death last year from COVID-19. The 52-year-old Schlesinger was a member of Fountains of Wayne and an accomplished contributor to film, television and theater.

Schlesinger played bass in Fountains Of Wayne alongside guitarists Chris Collingwood and Jody Porter and drummer Brian Young. “Stacy’s Mom,” the band’s 2003 single co-written by Schlesinger and Collingwood from their third album Welcome Interstate Managers, propelled them to international popularity.

Schlesinger’s success writing and recording music for film and television resulted in winning three Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award. He earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for writing the title song to the 1996 feature film, That Thing You Do!, which was written by, directed by and starred Tom Hanks. Schlesinger was twice nominated along with frequent collaborator David Javerbaum at the 2008 Tony Awards for their work on the Broadway musical Cry-Baby.

Schlesinger’s credits include writing themes and other songs for numerous television programs and awards shows. He was a successful producer, working on records with Robert Plant, They Might Be Giants and Dashboard Confessional, as well as all of Fountains Of Wayne’s albums.

In addition to Fountains Of Wayne, whose fifth and final album Sky Full of Holes came out in 2011, Schlesinger was a member of the supergroup Tinted Windows with The Smashing Pumpkins’ James Iha, Hanson’s Taylor Hanson and Cheap Trick’s Bun E. Carlos. Another group affiliated with Schlesinger was Ivy, whose membership included Dominique Durand and Andy Chase.

Back in 2011, Fountains Of Wayne performed a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR Music. Assembled around Bob Boilen’s desk, the group played the Sky Full of Holes tracks “The Summer Place” and “A Dip In The Ocean.” The band also played “Valley Winter Song” from Welcome Interstate Managers and “Troubled Times” from their 1999 sophomore LP, Utopia Parkway. Watch Fountains Of Wayne’s performance below: