Was (Not Was) singer Sweet Pea Atkinson dead at 74

Hilliard “Sweet Pea” Atkinson, who had a run of improbable hits in the 1980s with surrealist art-funk outfit Was (Not Was) before becoming an in-demand session singer, died of a heart attack May 5. He was 74 years old.

“He was one of the most underrated soul singers around. I never felt he quite got the recognition he was entitled to,” said Don Was, who started the group with partner David Was in 1979.