Greg Kihn, Iconic '80s Singer-Songwriter and Radio DJ, Dies at 75 from Alzheimer’s Complications

Greg Kihn, the famed singer-songwriter renowned for his group's chart-topping hits "Jeopardy" and "The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ’Em)" in the 1980s, and later a beloved radio disc jockey, passed away this week at a health care facility in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was 75 years old. The cause of his passing was complications of Alzheimer’s disease, as disclosed in a statement on his website on Thursday.

Musical Journey

Mr. Kihn's rise to prominence began in the early 1980s when he took the helm as the frontman of the Greg Kihn Band, a California pop group. He was adept at crafting songs that seamlessly blended elements of folk, classic rock, blues, and pop. After a series of modest successes, he hit the big time with "The Breakup Song," a collaboration with the band's bass guitarist, Steve Wright, which ascended to No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1981.

Enduring Legacy

In a 2011 interview with the website LikeTotally80s, Mr. Kihn reflected on the impact of success, saying, "I can tell you, life with a hit record is much better than life without a hit record." His words capture the transformative power of music and the indelible mark he left on the industry.