Pop heartthrob Eugene Hunt died on the operating table after doctors battled in vain for hours to keep him alive during what were meant to be exploratory heart tests, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.
The singer, famed as a member of ’80s family band The Jets and later the hitmaking duo Boys Club, went into hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, in a bid to diagnose cardiac problems that surfaced shortly before his shock death.
These came to light after he fainted and hit his head while working in the library of his Mormon church – and anxious wife of 35-years Michelle took him to the ER.
Doctors suggested flame-haired Hunt, 57, have heart tests but delayed them for a few days because of the trauma to his head, according to the Wolfgramm family who took him under their wing and made him part of The Jets.
‘He collapsed at church probably due to lack of oxygen and was passed out for a while,’ bassist Haini Wolfgramm, told DailyMail.com. ‘He hit his head so hard Michelle took him to the hospital.
Eugene Hunt was a part of the 80s family band The Jets and later the hitmaking duo Boys Club. He died on the operating table in a hospital in Salt Lake City
Hunt died on the operating table after doctors battled in vain for hours to keep him alive during what were meant to be exploratory heart tests
‘He had a lot of swelling. Doctors waited a day to run some tests and bloodwork. These revealed there were things that needed thorough investigation with his heart, but they could not put him through that immediately because they wanted him to recover from his fall.
‘So he went in days later and during that surgery, he didn’t make it. As a family we were and remain stunned. He was far too young to die.’
Hunt – who took the name Gene Wolfgram when he was in The Jets – died in April, but his death has not previously been reported.
Band leader LeRoy Wolfgramm said: ‘They put him under and his wife was told it would be a quick check. But that turned into hours as he ended up having a heart attack on the table.
‘They tried for several hours to keep him alive and they did everything possible. But it got to the point of no return and the doctor said that it’s useless.’
Hunt, born in Western Samoa, was one of eight members of the Tongan-American family group The Jets who had worldwide success from 1985 to 1990. They had five top ten hits in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, including their first, Curiosity.
He later formed Boys Club with Joe Pasquale. The pair aimed to be the US alternative to Wham! Although they had only one major hit, I Remember Holding You, which reached number 8 in 1989.
Hunt, who in later life dropped his adopted name, rejoined The Jets to record four tracks for a ‘best of’ album in 1990.
His death stunned members of the close-knit Wolfgramm family who are still grieving their loss. The Jets have a residency in Las Vegas, which pays tribute to the father of four each night.
The heart problems came to light when the father-of-four fainted and hit his head while working in the library of his Mormon church – and anxious wife of 35-years Michelle took him to ER
Band leader LeRoy Wolfgramm said: ‘They put him under and his wife was told it would be a quick check. But that turned into hours as he ended up having a heart attack on the table’
‘I’m a bassist and like to stay in the background but Eugene was a singer and he loved to be out front,’ said Haini, 56. ‘He commanded that stage, he had such a presence about him, he was just captivating.
‘And he was such a witty person. If someone asked him something he could come up with terrific one-liners. He made people laugh.
‘He even made light of the heart problem as soon it was revealed. Me and two brothers, we all have a heart condition. And Eugene called me to say he was joining our club.
‘That was how he always. I was best man at his wedding and he was at mine. So we were very close. His death is very hard to take.
‘We have the tribute to him in our show, on a video screen and we talk about him to the audience. In many ways we can’t believe we’re doing that. He is missed so much.’
Hunt slowed his live performing after Boys Club but was still involved in the music business. ‘The biggest thing, as Gene told me many times over the past five years, was his family and his faith and all of us. We could see that in his everyday life,’ he said.
LeRoy, 59, said: ‘He was adopted in the Tongan sense. I don’t believe there was ever a formal adoption but he was so close to our family growing up that he became one of us.’
And he revealed: ‘I spoke to him just two nights before he passed. We were working on some music tracks that he needed me for some input.
‘He was due to go into the studio. And then Michelle calls all of us and says, “hey, we need a prayer for your brother, he’s not doing well”. That was just before he went into hospital. It was so totally unexpected.’
‘I’m a bassist and like to stay in the background but Eugene was a singer and he loved to be out front,’ said Haini (left), 56. ‘He commanded that stage, he had such a presence about him, he was just captivating
Hunt moved to Salt Lake City with parents Francis and Alofa Hunt when he was four
Hunt moved to Salt Lake City with parents Francis and Alofa Hunt when he was four.
LeRoy said the singer was aged 10 when he first met him, just as his family’s band was beginning to take shape – and revealed what made the biggest impact.
‘Gene was doing Elvis Presley impersonations at a church function. He did Hound Dog and the whole routine, even had the jumpsuit.
‘We were very impressed with this kid moving his butt around on stage and shaking like Elvis. That’s how he ended up joining us.’
A glowing obituary written by his two families described Hunt as ‘bigger than life itself’.
It went on: ‘With his milky white skin and flaming red hair, everyone knew… he was going to be something great.’
The Jets, consisting of brothers and sisters from Tonga, pose for a portrait holding plaques to commemorate a milestone in sales in 1986 in Los Angeles, California
Singers and musicians Eugene (seated front) poses with other members of The Jets after a 1986 concert in Chicago
After moving to Salt Lake City ‘this is where his stardom began to bloom and he began singing with family bands around the city. He was the youngest Elvis impersonator and he rocked it on stage’.
The obit revealed how Hunt met his future wife. ‘In 1988, he went to Hawaii for his brother’s wedding. He met a girl through a mutual friend. He had seen this girl before on a video for the Polynesian Cultural Center while on a tour bus.
‘He made a comment that he was going to marry that girl. Well, who knew in June 1990 that his comment would come true. Typical Eugene put his mind to something and never stopped until he got it.’
Referring to his wife and children, the obit continued: ‘With all the fame and glory that he experience, his greatest joy and stardom came from his four little stars who called him daddy.’
