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John O'Banion (February 16, 1947 – February 14, 2007) was an American vocalist and actor.
O'Banion was born inKokomo, Indiana in 1947 and was performing in theater by the age of 13 as well as in a local Indiana band Hog Honda & the Chain Guards. By age 15, he hosted his own radio show onWIOU and had hosted his own local television show by age 20.
O'Banion was the lead singer inDoc Severinsen's band, Today's Children. He was managed by Bud Robinson, also Severinsen's manager. They parted ways in early 1974. O'Banion said thatJohnny Carson was a big fan and supporter of his career. O'Banion made five appearances on Carson'sTonight Show, and as many onMerv Griffin's andMike Douglas' shows. He also appeared onAmerican Bandstand,Solid Gold, and was the winning singer of the pilot ofStar Search.
His song "Love You Like I Never Loved Before" was ahit single in 1981, making it to No. 24 on the USBillboard Hot 100chart, No. 32 in Canada and No. 51 in Australia.[1] O'Banion won the prestigiousTokyo Music Festival Award in 1982, with "I Don't Want to Lose Your Love", later sung byCrystal Gayle on her 1983 albumCage the Songbird and achieving the No. 2 spot onBillboard'scountry chart. O'Banion also sang two songs for the Japanese period filmLegend of the Eight Samurai; "I Don't Want This Night to End" and "White Light".
He also appeared in the filmsBorderline withCharles Bronson, TV filmCourage withSophia Loren andBilly Dee Williams and starred in the 1990 independent filmThe Judas Project. In 1995, he released an album ofjazzcover versions of contemporary hits such as "I'm Not in Love", "What You Won't Do for Love" and the title track "Hearts".
In the early 2000s, while touring inNew Orleans, O'Banion was reportedly struck by a car or suffered a serious fall, resulting in significantblunt force trauma to the head. The accident caused long-term neurological complications, and O'Banion was subsequently diagnosed withfrontotemporal dementia, a progressive brain disease that affects personality, behavior, and language. The trauma he sustained in New Orleans is believed to have triggered or accelerated the disease.
O'Banion battled the effects of frontotemporal dementia for several years before dying at his home in Los Angeles on February 14, 2007, just two days before his 60th birthday. He was surrounded by friends and family at the time of his death.[2][3]
| Title | Album details | Chart | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||||||||||||||
| John O'Banion |
| 164[4] | |||||||||||||
| Danger |
| — | |||||||||||||
| 里見八犬伝 Satomi Hakken-Den |
| — | |||||||||||||
| White Light |
| — | |||||||||||||
| Hearts |
| — | |||||||||||||
| "-" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |