Gary DeCarlo may not have been a household name—but the chart-topping track he sang is one of the most recognizable in history. He died this week at the age of 75, according to media reports.
DeCarlo, who sung for the band Steam, released the song, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” in 1969. You’ve probably heard the chorus, which goes, “Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye.”
A friend of DeCarlo told TMZ that he passed away in hospice care in Connecticut, and he reportedly was battling lung cancer. “Gary’s close friend, Pat Horgan, tells us the singer died in hospice care in Connecticut. He had lung cancer, which spread all over his body. Horgan says Gary’s wife was by his side when he passed,” the report states.
After the song reached the top of the charts, it remained a staple at sporting events—with home fans often taunting other teams with the chorus.
According to DeCarlo, the song in its many forms sold more than 6.5 million copies, Rolling Stone reported.
In March of this year, lawmakers on the House floor chanted the chorus after a Republican-sponsored health care bill was passed.
The song was also used in the movie, “Remember the Titans.”
