LFO's Rich Cronin Dies from Leukemia, Age 35
Sept 8, 2010 23:23:15 GMT -5
Post by johnm1120 on Sept 8, 2010 23:23:15 GMT -5
Former singer with boy band LFO dies of leukemia
LOS ANGELES — Rich Cronin, former lead singer of the boy band LFO and the writer of its 1999 hit "Summer Girls," died on Wednesday after a battle with leukemia, celebrity news site TMZ reported. He was 35.
The news was also reported via Twitter by Lance Bass, a former member of 'N Sync, who described Cronin as "an amazing guy." It was not clear where Cronin died.
The Boston native co-founded LFO -- short for "Lyte Funky Ones" -- in 1995 with Brad Fischetti and Brian Gillis (who was later replaced by Devin Lima). They signed a deal with Lou Pearlman, the now-imprisoned pop impresario behind 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys.
But Cronin sought to differentiate his band from other male vocal groups, which relied on outside songwriters and producers to deliver soulful pop hits. LFO introduced hip-hop and rock into the equation, and hit No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart with the inescapable summer anthem "Summer Girls."
The follow-up, "Girl on TV," reached No. 10, but subsequent singles failed to crack the top 40. The band broke up in 2003.
Cronin was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, and set up a foundation to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
LOS ANGELES — Rich Cronin, former lead singer of the boy band LFO and the writer of its 1999 hit "Summer Girls," died on Wednesday after a battle with leukemia, celebrity news site TMZ reported. He was 35.
The news was also reported via Twitter by Lance Bass, a former member of 'N Sync, who described Cronin as "an amazing guy." It was not clear where Cronin died.
The Boston native co-founded LFO -- short for "Lyte Funky Ones" -- in 1995 with Brad Fischetti and Brian Gillis (who was later replaced by Devin Lima). They signed a deal with Lou Pearlman, the now-imprisoned pop impresario behind 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys.
But Cronin sought to differentiate his band from other male vocal groups, which relied on outside songwriters and producers to deliver soulful pop hits. LFO introduced hip-hop and rock into the equation, and hit No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart with the inescapable summer anthem "Summer Girls."
The follow-up, "Girl on TV," reached No. 10, but subsequent singles failed to crack the top 40. The band broke up in 2003.
Cronin was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, and set up a foundation to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Heavy on the unless.
R.I.P.
