Calvin Hayes has sadly passed away at the age of 63. He's best known for his role in co-founding hit 80s band, Johnny Hates Jazz.
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Hayes, a talented musician who could play both the keyboard and the drums, reportedly collapsed at his home in Washington State. Following his death, Hayes' bandmates, Clark Datchler and Mike Nocito, shared a touching statement on Instagram.
"As many of you now know, our old friend and former bandmate Calvin died on Thursday. We are utterly shocked and deeply saddened," the statement reads. "Upon hearing the news, we decided to talk privately with other people who knew him well before posting anything publicly, which is why you are hearing from us now. This gave us a way to share our memories, express our emotions, and begin to come to terms with such a tragic loss."
The statement then continues by detailing the close bond between the band members.
"The three of us were brothers in arms for an extraordinary moment in time. One in which we managed to touch the world with the music we created together. 40 years on, and regardless of the fact that Calvin was no longer in the band, we know he remained incredibly proud of the fact that our songs and recordings, especially from the "Turn Back The Clock" album, continue to resonate with so many people."
Johnny Hates Jazz Still Boasts a Large Audience
Some 40 years after the band's heyday, Johnny Hates Jazz still has a swell of fans. According to Spotify, the group is drawing in over 1.3 million monthly listeners on the platform. When you factor in all streaming services, the number likely exceeds 5 million hits per month.
"Shattered Dreams" remains the band's most popular song. It's drawn over 142.7 million hits on Spotify, more if you count the extended remaster version.
"Turn Back The Clock" and "I Don't Want To Be A Hero" are the other two hits that have pulled in tens of millions of hits over the years. Therefore, there will be countless Johnny Hates Jazz fans who will be devastated by the news of Hayes's death.
Currently, there's no information regarding Hayes' impending funeral. Those details will likely remain private for family and close friends.
