Paul Hardcastle has announced his son has been killed in a motorcycle accident.
The British singer, 68, is best known for his song 19, which hit number one on the UK Singles Chart in 1985.
That same year he married wife Dolores Baker, with the couple sharing three children including British DJ and saxophonist Paul Hardcastle Jr. as well as singer Maxine Hardcastle.
However overnight Hardcastle shared the news that his son Paul Jr. had died aged 35.
Posting a photo of his son playing a guitar as a child on Instagram, he wrote: ‘Just to let you know that my super talented son Paul Hardcastle Jnr. was in a fatal motorcycle accident earlier and has sadly died. RIP son love Dad.’
The singer was quickly flooded with messages of support from friends and fans.
‘Oh Paul I’m so so sorry for your loss!! Sending you and the family love and strength and this sad time,’ S Club singer Jo O’Meara wrote.
‘Paul, I have no words to express the heartbreak of hearing this awful news. I am so so sorry. This loss is immeasurable. I am heartbroken. He was and will always be a true 1 in a million. Sending love and healing to you all,’ Libbie commented.
‘Oh no! Sending my love and deepest condolences to you Paul, and all your family. Rest in Peace Paul Jnr,’ Marie shared.
‘That’s absolutely gutting to hear. He was a good friend and always loved working with him. RIP Paul,’ Charly added.
Paul began his career in 1981 when joining the soul band Direct Drive as a keyboard player, although he and lead singer Derek Green left the following year to form the duo First Light.
However, the project was abandoned after two years and Paul went on to pursue a solo career, with early success including 1984’s Rain Forest and Sound Chaser – with the album they were both on being nominated for the best R&B instrumental performance at the Grammys.
But it was anti-war single 19 that saw his career take off internationally, becoming the top-selling single in 13 countries in 1985.
Other notable singles then included Just for Money, The Wizard, Don’t Waste My Time and Give Give Give.
Since the 1990s, he’s gone on to release several synth jazz albums, alternating under the pseudonyms Kiss the Sky and the Jazzmasters, as well as under his real name.
But in 2024 he revealed that he once had aspirations to be a motorbike rider, but was left hospitalised for nearly four months after an accident.
Speaking on Virgin Radio 80s Plus, he explained: ‘I came out, I had compound fractures on my femur, my tibia, and fibula. Half of it was my fault, because I was going too fast, but someone pulled out as well.’
Explaining how the accident influenced him pursuing a career in music, he went on: ‘I was in there for four months, I had nothing to do. I was just listening to the radio.
‘I had done music with my dad, when I was about eight years old, I went around Berlin. We lived everywhere, anywhere that he was getting gigs.
‘I was sort of a novelty because I could play the drums and do a little bit of sort of singing and play a little bit of guitar.’
He then explained ‘wrangling his way’ into a band before going out on his own.
Following in his dad’s footsteps, Paul Jnr. had also carved out a successful career as a musician.
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He features on his father’s 2008 album Hardcastle 5, appearing on the final track, Take 1, as well as working on the 2022 release, Hardcastle X.
His 2010 debut single Touch and Go also reached number one on the USA Billboard Jazz Chart.
The musician’s website described him as a ‘billboard chart-topping and Grammy-nominated saxophonist who has enjoyed a successful career across music’.
His career began aged just 16 when he performed his first professional shows as a saxophonist for celebrity parties, corporate launches, super-clubs, nightclubs, functions and bars across the UK.
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