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Telefon Tel Aviv's Cooper Dies at 31

Charlie Cooper, one-half of the Chicago-based electronic duo Telefon Tel Aviv, passed away on January 22 -- just two days after the group's new album, 'Immolate Yourself,' was released. He was 31.

As of yet, no cause of death has been given. On the group's MySpace page, Cooper's partner in music, Joshua Eustis, wrote a touching and candid memorial of someone with whom he'd been friends with "since high school."

"We have been so fortunate to tour the world together, while at the same time having a massive amount of laughs at one another's expense," Eustis writes. "Aside from Charlie's singular genius and musical gifts, I can tell you that he was a total sweetheart of a guy, and a loving friend and confidant to people everywhere."

According to Eustis' post, Cooper is survived by his parents, sister, nephew and "more adoring friends than the Universe has dark matter."

Download: Telefon Tel Aviv, 'Helen of Troy' (MP3)


Dearly Departed Musicians

    Charlie Cooper of electronic duo Telefon Tel Aviv. The cause of death is currently unknown. He was 31.

    Bpitch Control

    David 'Fathead' Newman, Jan. 20: The tenor sax player not only played with Ray Charles and other legends, but also had a successful solo career. He died of pancreatic cancer at 75.

    Getty Images

    Pedro Aguilar, Jan. 13: The mambo dancing legend known to most as 'Cuban Pete' was one of the genre's leading men in the 1950s. He died at the age of 81.

    AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Raul Rubiera

    Ron Asheton, Jan. 6: Along with Iggy Pop, left, the guitarist helped define the Detroit garage rock sound with the beloved Stooges. Although it hasn't been made official, it's believed that Asheton suffered a heart attack at his Ann Arbor, Mich. home. He was 60.

    Harold Cunningham, WireImage

    Freddie Hubbard, Dec. 29: The 'hard bop' jazz trumpet legend who worked with greats like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman and Art Blakey during his prime died more than a month after suffering a heart attack on Nov. 20. He was 70 years old.

    Tom Copi, Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    Delaney Bramlett, Dec. 27: The accomplished singer, songwriter and producer to such stars as George Harrison and Eric Clapton died at the age of 69 after complications from gallbladder surgery. He's seen here (right) in 1970 with Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia (left).

    AP

    Eartha Kitt, Dec. 25: The sultry 'Santa Baby' songstress who went on to have a long career in music, movies and on stage died on Christmas day after a long battle with colon cancer.

    Jamie McCarthy, WireImage.com

    Davy Graham, Dec. 15: The folk singer known and respected across the music world for his nimble fingers and innovative use of tuning, died from a seizure in his London home. He was 68, and also had a long battle lung cancer.

    Chris Mills, Redferns / Retna

    Odetta, Dec. 2: The singer who became intertwined with the civil rights movement and sang during the 1963 march on Washington died of what her manager says was a heart attack. She was 77.

    AP

    Ralph Joseph "Jody" Reynolds, Nov. 7: The rockabilly singer, whose lone Top 10 hit 'Endless Sleep' ushered in a wave of similar songs about teens and tragedy in the late 1950s, died of liver cancer. He was 75.

    Amazon.com

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105 Comments

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brutus1327

My father-in-law is in Hospice right now.I know the feeling.They gave him about 2-3 weeks.My wife already lost her mother when she was 18.So now losing her Father she's at wits end.Went in hospital 2 weeks before Christmas for pacemaker replacement and it's been downhill ever since.My prayers are with you.

January 31 2009 at 12:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
odom602

who? are they going to put me on aol when I die? since the're putting up stories of a nobody.

January 31 2009 at 11:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bill

Who? I mean, is every single death "news" now? I'm really sorry to hear some guy died so young, but honestly...

January 31 2009 at 11:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
travelergtoo

WHO WHAT BAND?

January 31 2009 at 11:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
randy

who the hell is telephon tel aviv...how should i feel about this death when i never heard of them. maybe they shoulda moved to tel aviv

January 31 2009 at 9:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Fonda\'s Girl

I do understand that Billy Powell passed away as well. They knew his cause of death. I believe that the reason that they are continuing with this story is due to the fact that this young man's death has not been determined yet.
My question is, the guy was 31. Why and how hard is it to figure out how this guy passed? And, another question I have is, are they just not telling anyone? But, that are the way my thoughts are processed.

January 31 2009 at 7:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Malachi

Now, that's ONE way to get publicity!
BARUCH DAYAN EMET.

January 28 2009 at 11:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Roberta

God speed you on your journey and I hope you make it safely. Surely he knows that you love him and that is the most important thing of all........I lost my dearest sister to cancer almost 12 years ago. All of us who have been on the path that you are on now send you much love and white light.

January 28 2009 at 11:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tyronefl1

My sympathies to the deceased and his family, but if a rapper had died, this board would be so full of racist postings and assumptions it wouldn't be funny...

January 28 2009 at 9:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jcicirello

hello this is john cicirello from philadelphia pa. how are you and i have a few videos on you tube.com go into search and put in south philly john

January 28 2009 at 7:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply