Greg Kihn, the singer-songwriter who led the Greg Kihn Band and sang the 1983 hit “Jeopardy,” died on August 13, 2024, at age 75. His family’s memorial statement said he died after living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Who was Greg Kihn?
Born in Baltimore on July 10, 1949, Kihn moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1970s and became part of its rock scene. He was among the early artists signed to Beserkley Records, the independent label founded by Matthew King Kaufman. Kihn’s music blended folk, classic rock, blues and pop.
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The Greg Kihn Band built a following through recordings and extensive touring. Looking back in 2012, Kihn told the San Francisco Chronicle: “We toured constantly in the ’80s. We opened for the Rolling Stones, did several tours with Journey, played a lot of Grateful Dead gigs.”
How big were “The Breakup Song” and “Jeopardy”?
“The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ’Em)” was Kihn’s first hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached No. 15 in May 1981. Two years later, “Jeopardy” became the band’s biggest chart success, peaking at No. 2 in May 1983, behind Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”
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| Song | Hot 100 peak | Place in Kihn’s career |
|---|---|---|
| “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ’Em)” | No. 15 in May 1981, according to the Los Angeles Times | His first Hot 100 hit |
| “Jeopardy” | No. 2 in May 1983, according to the San Francisco Chronicle | His best-known hit; it was held from No. 1 by “Beat It” |
The “Jeopardy” video received early exposure on MTV, helping make the song a familiar part of the decade’s music-video era. Weird Al Yankovic later turned it into the parody “I Lost on Jeopardy.” Kihn gave permission and appeared in the parody’s video.
What did Greg Kihn do after his hitmaking years?
Radio broadcasting
Kihn continued working in the Bay Area as a radio host. His official memorial statement says he hosted KFOX’s morning show for 17 years and also presented a nationally syndicated night program. The Los Angeles Times reported that he retired from KFOX in 2018.
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Horror fiction
Kihn also wrote horror novels; his official memorial says he published six. He described his work as a “rock ’n’ roll thriller.” In a 1999 interview quoted by the San Francisco Chronicle, he said: “I invented my own genre.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was the cause of Greg Kihn’s death?
Kihn died on August 13, 2024, at 75. His official memorial statement, posted August 15, attributed his death to Alzheimer’s disease: Greg Kihn’s memorial statement.
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