Died On This Date (November 22, 1997) Michael Hutchence / INXS
themusicsover Michael Hutchence
January 22, 1960 – November 22, 1997
Michael Hutchence was the internationally famous and charismatic front man for INXS, one of the most popular bands of the ’80s. Formed in Australia in 1980, the band became stars of their native land by the time their third album, Shabooh Shoobah, was released in 1983. Thanks to infectious tracks like “The One Thing” and “Don’t Change,” the album would prove to be a minor hit in the U.S. as well. By 1985, the band were international superstars thanks to the powerful dance rock of albums, The Swing and Listen Like Thieves. The band’s blend of alternative rock and dance along with Hutchence’s swagger and good looks proved to irresistible to MTV, further cementing their place in rock stardom. During the late ’80s, Hutchence found himself cast in significant roles in a couple of motion pictures, Dogs In Space and Frankenstein Unbound. He also became tabloid fodder due to his relationships with popular actresses, models and singers of the day. The band continued recording and touring through the ’90s, but were not quite repeating the success they found earlier. On November 22, 1997, Michael Hutchence, 37, was found dead in a hotel room in Sydney, Australia. Officials ruled the death a suicide by hanging, but the fact that he was found naked and hadn’t left behind a suicide note, some close to him have speculated that he died accidentally during autoerotic asphyxiation.
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John Osnes was a beloved lounge pianist and singer who first came to prominence in New York City where he played standards and Broadway hits. Over the course of his career, he entertained at private functions held by the likes of Al Gore, Rupert Murdoch and Neil Simon. In 2005, Osnes moved to Los Angeles where he quickly turned The Piano Bar in Hollywood into a favorite entertainment destination for the city’s beautiful people. On November 22, 2008 while walking home from an engagement, Osnes allegedly got into an altercation with a driver he felt came to close to him while walking in a crosswalk. Words and anger ensued and Osnes was allegedly killed during a physical confrontation with the driver. Swedish rapper David Jassey was later arrested for the murder of Osnes.
Allan Sherman was a popular humorist, television producer and parody singer-songwriter who had a massive top 40 hit with his 1963 novelty single, “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh,” a song about a child’s rough time at summer camp. It was sung to the tune of “Dance of the Hours” by Amilcare Ponchielli. That was followed by another humorous hit, “The Twelve Gifts of Christmas.” Such songs were a direct influence on likes of Weird Al Yankovic. Sherman’s career actually began in television. From 1952 to 1967, he was the producer of I’ve Got a Secret, which was based on an idea of his. He began putting out novelty records in the early ’60s. His specialty was taking old folk songs and changing the lyrics to poke fun at his Jewish heritage. One such hit of his was “Sarah Jackman” sung to the tune of “Frere Jacques.” Sherman’s popularity was short lived though, likely due to the fickle tastes of music fans. Some have even specualted that the changing mood in America after the assasanation of John F. Kennedy lead to his decline in popularity. Sherman tended to eat and drink heavily, leading to health problems as he grew older. He suffered from diabetes and lung disease and died of emphysema at the age of 48.