Calvin Hayes, the British musician and co-founder of the 1980s pop group Johnny Hates Jazz, has passed away. The keyboardist and drummer collapsed at his home in Washington earlier this week. He was 63 years old.
Clark Datchler and Mike Nocito, his bandmates, posted a statement on the official Johnny Hates Jazz social media account, writing:
As many of you now know, our old friend and former bandmate Calvin died on Thursday. We are utterly shocked and deeply saddened.
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 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.
It is in the brightness of that moment, and with the memory of the great camaraderie we once shared, that we will remember Calvin.
Hayes was born in London on November 27, 1962, and formed Johnny Hates Jazz in 1986 alongside Datchler and Nocito. The band signed with Virgin Records and gained international recognition in 1987 with their hit single “Shattered Dreams.” Their debut album, *Turn Back The Clock*, topped the UK Albums Chart. After Datchler departed and was replaced by Phil Thornalley, their subsequent album *Tall Stories* failed to chart, leading to the group’s initial breakup. They reunited in 2009, but Hayes left the band in 2010.
