Greg Kihn, Who Scored With ’80s Hit ‘Jeopardy,’ Dies at 75
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Greg Kihn, the San Francisco Bay Area-based singer and songwriter who earned a pair of hits in the early ’80s, including “Jeopardy,” which reached #2 on the Hot 100 in 1983, died Monday, August 13, 2024, at age 75. His social media platforms shared the news today (August 15), noting that the performer had lost his battle with Alzheimer’s while omitting the place of death.
On July 10, when he turned 75, he posted on Facebook for the first time in a year, writing, “Hello all my wonderful Kihnfolk. I wanted to come on here and thank all of you for the lovely birthday wishes. I’m sure you’ve all been wondering where I’ve been. My apologies for not updating you sooner but I needed some time away to myself and my family. After so many years of touring as well as doing radio shows from 3am-3pm for 15 years, it’s finally time I get to chill out. I’m enjoying sleeping in, watching movies, listening to music and my favorite thing to do is just spend time with my family. Again thank you to each and every one of you for all your love and support now and over the years. Rock on!”
Kihn, born in Baltimore, MD, moved to San Francisco in 1974 and soon was one of the first artists signed to the Beserkley Records label. (Others included Jonathan Richman and the power pop band The Rubinoos). Beginning in 1976, The Greg Kihn Band released an album each year, although it wasn’t until 1981’s RocKihnRoll that the group broke through, thanks to the success of the #15 single “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em),” marketed and distributed through a deal with Elektra/Asylum, and which he co-wrote with bandmate Steve Wright.
Two years and two albums later, the group released Kihnspiracy which yielded their biggest hit, “Jeopardy.” The song made it all the way to #2 on the Hot 100 in 1983, topped only by the juggernaut that was Michael Jackson, whose “Beat It” was #1. Still, a dance mix of “Jeopardy” topped Billboard‘s Hot Play/Dance Club chart.
The catchy single proved to be the Greg Kihn Band’s peak effort. Though they continued to release many more albums and singles, they never came close to matching the success achieved with “Jeopardy.”
In 1984, “Weird Al” Yankovic gave the song renewed life with his clever parody, “I Lost on Jeopardy,” with Kihn making a cameo appearance on the music video. Also joining in the fun were the game show’s host at the time, Art Fleming, and iconic announcer Don Pardo. [Note: You’ll need to click on the link to watch the clever clip.]
The announcement of Kihn’s death noted: “As a former Morning Radio host for KFOX for 17 years, as well as a syndicated night time radio host across the country, Kihn related to and captivated his audiences with real world issues and hysterical tales from his Rock Star escapades.
“Beyond the world of music and radio, he was renowned as a great storyteller and novelist with six published novels and a multitude of short stories. He had a unique hobby of breeding rare praying mantis and he also spent time and raised money for Operation Care and Comfort. His kindness and generosity extended far beyond the stage, as he engaged in initiatives to support Operation Care and Comfort as well as other organizations. Friends and family remember him not just as a rock star, but as a warm-hearted individual who brought joy and inspiration to everyone he encountered.”
Related: Musicians we’ve lost in 2024
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationI just wanted to say how sorry I am to Hear of Greg’s passing. A huge chunk of my youth just went flying out the window. And it really hurts. I loved Greg, his band, and his music. He was a great showman, singer, and guitar player. His music was straight ahead no nonsense rock n roll yet I think tempered by that sweetness of the 50s. His bands shows just smoked! Really gonna miss you buddy. ROAD RUNNER ROAD RUNNER ROAD RUNNER…I GOT THE RADIO ON!!!