Pop musician Calvin Hayes dies aged 63

Calvin Hayes, a key figure in the 1980s pop music scene and co-founder of the band Johnny Hates Jazz, has died at the age of 63. His wife, Kathy, confirmed his passing to the British media outlet Metro. Hayes reportedly collapsed at his home in Washington D.C., where he was later found deceased.

Hayes was instrumental in forming Johnny Hates Jazz, which achieved significant popularity in the late 1980s. He played keyboard and drums in the band, which also featured Clark Datchler on vocals and Mike Nocito on bass. Their 1987 single "Shattered Dreams" became a top 10 hit in multiple countries, followed by their 1988 debut album "Turn Back the Clock," which topped the UK charts.

Following Datchler's departure for a solo career, Hayes and Nocito continued with a different singer. However, Hayes's career was interrupted by a near-fatal car accident that left him in casts for nearly a year. He also played drums for pop singer Kim Wilde, who described him as "one of the best things that ever happened to me."

Johnny Hates Jazz disbanded in 1992, and Hayes largely withdrew from the public eye. He resurfaced around 2010 when the band's founders reunited for a series of concerts across Europe and Southeast Asia. Hayes left the band again shortly after for personal reasons, according to The Sun.

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something of the best that ever happened to me