Tommy Page, the 1990s pop star-turned-music executive known for the songs Shoulder To Cry On and I'll Be Your Everything, has died. He was 46.
Page was found dead on March 3, according to Billboard. Early reports show that the cause of death was unclear but several friends believe it was an apparent suicide. A report by UsWeekly states that a source told the magazine that Page had hung himself.
Page began his career in the music industry at Sire Records after meeting its founder, Seymour Stein, the man who helped launched the careers of the Ramones and Madonna.
His performing career started after writing the theme for the 1989 comedy Shag, and using the title track to launch his debut album, Tommy Page. From that album came the single A Shoulder To Cry On, which was big hit in Asia in the early 1990s but did not perform as well in the US.
Commercial success was only achieved with Page's follow-up album, Paintings In My Mind which featured I'll Be Your Everything. The song, written with New Kids On The Block members Jordan Knight and Danny Wood, and featuring the boy band, would later go on to reach No. 1 on the music charts. It was Page's only No.1 single.
In 1992, Page made an appearance as himself on an episode of the hit sitcom Full House titled Crushed in which he sang to the character Stephanie Tanner (played by actress Jodie Sweetin) on her 10th birthday.
Page became an A&R executive and vice president of Top 40 promotions at Warner Bros Records/Reprise Records. He had helped to shape the careers of fellow musicians like Michael Buble, Josh Groban and Ashley Tisdale.
Page left Warner in 2011 and became a publisher at Billboard. After a two-year stint, he served as an executive for the online radio, Pandora.
"We are all mourning the loss of our friend and colleague Tommy Page. He was a magnetic soul and a true entertainer. Our thoughts are with his family," Billboard Entertainment Group president John Amato said in a statement.
Page is survived by his husband, Charlie, and their three children. He last performed in Malaysia in 2015 at the Retrofest Asia showcase.
Sources: Reuters, Billboard, UsWeekly
NEXT PAGE: Singers Amy Mastura and Fauziah Latiff remember an all-round nice guy
Compiled by Gordon Kho and Mumtaj Begum
“I was so honoured when Tommy asked me to sing a duet with him. We recorded The Best Part separately but we met when we did the music video in Thailand. I remembered him as a fun, cheerful and friendly person. We had lost touch for so many years, but we met again in December 2015 for his mini concert (at Retrofest Asia 2015, in Malaysia). He invited me to sing The Best Part. I was so happy and sang with him again. After so long, he was still the same down-to-earth person. I never thought that his life would end this way. I am sad for the loss of a friend and a colleague. My deepest condolence to his family and friends.” – Amy Mastura
“I had a great experience working with him. We had a few shows together (in Malaysia). I found him to be a professional, simple and humble man. He was soft-spoken and kind. I was shocked and sad when I heard the news (of his passing). It is such a big loss. I still remember his words of advice to me: ‘Don’t give up and keep on doing what you love the most.’ My condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.” – Fauziah Latiff
“He was an incredibly humble, friendly and easy-going guy who never got upset or angry even when he had to work without lunch. Never ever complained once about his promotional tour schedule which would start as early as 8am and ended at 10pm, sometimes even later when he had to appear in clubs. After the night ended, we would pass him tons of CDs/posters to autograph and it would be done by the next morning.” – Cheah Mun Kit, former label manager (International Department) for Warner Music
“Tommy was very down-to-earth and was such an amazing artiste who always had time for his fans. When he was touring Malaysia, he always asked for hamburger, fries and Coke. He was an all-American boy. I reconnected with him after I moved to California. He saw me in Los Angeles and called out to me from afar. I was surprised he even remembered me after all these years. He would always talk about his visits to Malaysia and said it was an unforgettable experience for him. He said that KL was his second home because it was where his popularity started and gained momentum in this part of Asia.” – Sherine Kokado, former promotional executive (International Department) for Warner Music
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