SURVIVOR SINGER JIMI JAMISON DIES AT 63

[RJhog (Admin)]

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Jimi Jamison, the singer for Survivor during their peak mid-’80s run, has died. He was 63 years old. TMZ reports that Jamison passed away last night of a heart attack.

While Jamison wasn’t the singer of the band’s biggest hit, 1982′s ‘Eye of the Tiger,’ he was around for Survivor’s string of hits throughout the ’80s, starting with 1985′s ‘High on You,’ a Top 10 hit that came just a year after he joined.

Over the next couple years, Jamison helped Survivor score three more Top 10 hits: ‘The Search Is Over,’ ‘Burning Heart’ and ‘This Is Love.’

Jamison, who was raised in Memphis, got his start performing with the band Cobra in the early ’80s. During this time, he also sang background vocals on albums by ZZ Top, Joe Walsh and George Thorogood. After stepping into original singer Dave Bickler’s Survivor role in 1984, Jamison was with the group for the rest of the decade.

He was asked to join Deep Purple in the late ’80s as a replacement for the departing Ian Gillan, but declined to focus on a solo career. He also co-wrote and sang the theme song to ‘Baywatch,’ ‘I’m Always Here.’ Over the past decade, he’s released solo albums as well as collaborations with former Survivor member Jim Peterik and Toto‘s Bobby Kimball. His most recent record is 2012′s ‘Never Too Late.’

There was talk of reuniting Survivor recently, too. They last released an album in 2006. “There probably is going to be some new music,” Jamison told Popdose in 2012. “We’ve been talking about it recently and I’m not sure exactly how we’re going to handle it yet, but we’re definitely talking about it. And I think there probably should be, to be honest with you.”

[RJhog (Admin)]

Awful.  RIP.

[Scott]

terrible news... 

[Jon]

Sad news. RIP.

[TageRyche]

Dammit all!

I was just listening to Survivor and Jamison's solo album a little over a week ago.

My first brush with the fame of meeting or being really close to a rock star was at my first rock concert where I got to high five Jamison during the encore for "Eye of the Tiger".

This is definitely not news I wanted to wake up to this morning.

By the way, last I remember Survivor was doing concert dates with both David Bickler and Jimi Jamison doing vocals.

[Scott]

There was a picture of the band posted to their facebook page from 8/30 showing both singers together.  I've made no bones about my preference of Survivor singer, but Jamison was very good and took Survivor into superstardom -  this is a big loss..

[Scandal 2000]

I was sorry to hear this. I always liked Survivor. Jamison was a good singer.

[Meow]

vary unfortunate, his material certainly embodies the 80s like no other