Pop heartthrob Eugene Hunt died on the operating table after doctors fought in vain for hours to keep him alive during what was meant to be exploratory heart tests, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.
The singer, famous as a member of ’80s family band The Jets and later hit duo Boys Club, went to the hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, in an attempt to diagnose heart 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 concerned wife of 35 years Michelle took him to the emergency room.
Doctors suggested that the flame-haired Hunt, 57, undergo cardiac tests, but postponed 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 in the church, probably from lack of oxygen, and was unconscious for a while,” bassist Haini Wolfgramm told DailyMail.com. ‘He hit his head so hard that Michelle took him to hospital.
Eugene Hunt was part of the 1980s family band The Jets and later the hit duo Boys Club. He died on the operating table at a hospital in Salt Lake City
Hunt died on the operating table after doctors fought in vain for hours to keep him alive during what was meant to be exploratory cardiac testing.
‘He had a lot of swelling. Doctors waited a day before performing some tests and blood tests. This showed that there were things that required a thorough examination of his heart, but they could not let him go through it 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 while playing for the Jets – died in April, but his death has not previously been reported.
Band leader LeRoy Wolfgramm said, “They had him go into hiding and his wife was told it would be a quick check. But that turned into hours when he finally had a heart attack.
‘They tried to keep him alive for hours and did everything they could. But it got to the point where there was no turning back and the doctor said it was useless.”
Born in Western Samoa, Hunt was one of eight members of the Tongan-American family group The Jets that enjoyed worldwide success from 1985 to 1990. They had five top ten hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, including their first, Curiosity.
He later formed Boys Club with Joe Pasquale. The pair wanted to be the American alternative to Wham! Although they only had one big hit, I Remember Holding You, which reached number 8 in 1989.
Hunt, who dropped his adopted name late in life, rejoined The Jets in 1990 to record four songs for a ‘best of’ album.
His death stunned members of the close-knit Wolfgramm family, who are still mourning their loss. The Jets have a residence in Las Vegas, where tributes are paid to the father of four every evening.
The heart problems came to light when he fainted and hit his head while working in the library of his Mormon church – and concerned wife of 35 years Michelle took him to the emergency room
Band leader LeRoy Wolfgramm said, “They had him go into hiding and his wife was told it would be a quick check. But that turned into hours, because in the end he had a heart attack on the table’
“I’m a bassist and I like to stay in the background, but Eugene was a singer and he liked to be out front,” said Haini, 56. “He was in charge on that stage, he was so present, he was just captivating .
“And he was such a witty person. Whenever someone asked him something, he could come up with great one-liners. He made people laugh.
“He even made light of the heart problem as soon as it came to light. Me and two brothers all have heart disease. And Eugene called me to say that he was joining our club.
‘He was always like that. I was best man at his wedding and he was at mine. So we were very close. His death is very difficult to accept.
‘We pay tribute to him in our show on a video screen and we talk about him with the audience. In many ways we can’t believe we’re doing that. He is so missed.”
Hunt slowed down his live performance after Boys Club, but was still involved in the music business. “The most important 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 daily life,” he said.
LeRoy, 59, said: “He was adopted in the Tongan sense. I don’t believe a formal adoption ever took place, but he was so close to our family growing up that he became one of us.”
And he revealed: ‘I only spoke to him two nights before he passed away. We were working on some music tracks and he needed me for some input.
“He would go into the studio. And then Michelle calls us all and says, “Hey, we need a prayer for your brother, he’s not doing well.” That was right before he went to the hospital. It was so completely unexpected.”
“I’m a bass player and I like to stay in the background, but Eugene was a singer and he liked to be at the front,” said Haini (left), 56. “He was in charge of that stage, he had such a presence , he was just fascinating
Hunt moved to Salt Lake City with his parents Francis and Alofa Hunt at the age of four
Hunt moved to Salt Lake City with his parents Francis and Alofa Hunt at the age of four.
LeRoy said the singer was 10 years old when he first met him, just as his family’s bond was starting to take shape — and revealed what had the biggest impact.
“Gene did Elvis Presley impersonations at a church event. He did Hound Dog and the whole routine, even had the jumpsuit.
‘We were very impressed with this boy who moved his butt on stage and shook like Elvis. That’s how he ended up with us.’
A glowing obituary written by his two families described Hunt as “bigger than life itself.”
It continued: ‘With his milky white skin and flaming red hair, everyone knew… he was going to be something great.’
The Jets, made up of siblings from Tonga, pose for a portrait with plaques commemorating a 1986 sales milestone 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, “his stardom began to blossom here and he began singing with family bands throughout the city.” He was the youngest Elvis impersonator and he rocked the stage.”
The obituary 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 previously seen this girl on a video in front of the Polynesian Cultural Center while on a tour bus.
‘He said he was going to marry that girl. Well, who would have thought in June 1990 that his comment would become reality. Typical of Eugene setting his mind on something and never stopping until he got it.”
Referring to his wife and children, the obituary continued: “Despite all the fame and glory he experienced, his greatest joy and glory came from his four little stars who called him Dad.”