Tommy Keene, the power pop singer-songwriter best known for the 1984 hit “Places That Are Gone,” died Wednesday at age 59, according to his official website.
“Tommy passed unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep,” the website reported, offering no further details.
The Maryland native first rose to attention in the ’80s and associated himself with both the New Wave and power pop movements.
Over the years, he released albums with Geffen Records and Matador, as well as multiple smaller indie labels.
In addition to solo work, he also collaborated with like-minded musicians like Guided by Voices, T. Bone Burnett, the Goo Goo Dolls and Matthew Sweet.
He also made a cameo appearance — along with one of his songs, “Run Now” — in the 1986 Anthony Michael Hall movie “Out of Bounds.”