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'Jeopardy' Hitmaker Greg Kihn Passes Away at 75

Rock icon Greg Kihn, known for "The Breakup Song" and "Jeopardy," has died at 75. Remember his music, novels, and radio career. Donations to Alzheimer’s Association.

Greg Kihn, the renowned rock singer-songwriter famous for hits like "The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)" and "Jeopardy," has passed away at the age of 75. His publicist, Michael Brandvold, announced on Thursday that Kihn died due to complications from Alzheimer's disease after a long struggle.

Born Gregory Stanley Kihn in Baltimore on July 10, 1949, Kihn developed a passion for music early on. He picked up his first guitar at 13, inspired by watching The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. He began his music career in Baltimore before moving to San Francisco in the early 1970s, where he gained recognition for his distinctive mix of folk, classic rock, blues, and melodic pop.

In 1976, Kihn formed the Greg Kihn Band with guitarist Robbie Dunbar, bassist Steve Wright, and drummer Larry Lynch. Although they didn't achieve massive commercial success, the band earned acclaim for their live performances and received positive reviews for their records.

Their debut album, simply titled Greg Kihn, was followed by a series of pun-themed album titles like Next of Kihn, RocKihnRoll, and Kihntinued. Kihn’s breakthrough came with "The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)," which reached No. 15 on the Hot 100 in May 1981. His 1983 hit "Jeopardy" soared to No. 2 on the Hot 100, only being edged out by Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”

"Jeopardy" became even more popular when Weird Al Yankovic parodied it with "I Lost on Jeopardy," featuring Kihn himself in the video. Kihn praised the parody, calling it a "brilliant" tribute and noting that he continues to receive royalties from it.

In addition to his music career, Kihn wrote several horror novels and edited a collection of short stories by notable rock figures like Ray Davies, Pete Townshend, and Joan Jett. He also enjoyed a successful career as a morning radio host at KUFX-FM (KFOX) in San Jose, California, for nearly twenty years.

Kihn’s radio career ended when he was let go, but he was inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame on the same day. He is survived by his wife Jay, children Ryan and Alexis, son-in-law Samora, grandsons Nate and Zuri, sister Laura, brother-in-law Lou, and nephews Larry, Lou, and Matthew. Donations in his memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.