Power Pop Musician Tommy Hoehn Dies at 55

Musician and power pop cult figure Tommy Hoehn died on Thursday at age 55 after a long struggle with cancer.

Hoehn is perhaps best known as a sometime collaborator with the members of Big Star (he sang back-up on Third/Sister Lovers) and the Scruffs, but was a gifted pop artist in his own right, releasing two fine solo albums in the mid-late 70s on London Records. The 1977 single “Blow Yourself Up” was his biggest hit, eventually earning Hoehn a new generation of followers thanks to its inclusion on 1993 Rhino Records compilation D.I.Y.: Come Out and Play: American Power Pop I (1975-78).

Hoehn's last official release came in 2002 with Blue Orange, his second album as a duo with friend and fellow Memphis pop legend Van Duren. He was also hard at work on new solo album before his most recent hospitalization; the project is now slated to be completed by his many friends in the local music scene later this year.

Hoehn's memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday at the Church of the Holy Communion, 4645 Walnut Grove Road.