Family of the Fountains of Wayne frontman, who reportedly contracted COVID-19 in March, has previously claimed they are 'cautiously optimistic' of his recovery.
- Apr 2, 2020
AceShowbiz - Fountains of Wayne frontman Adam Schlesinger has lost his battle with the coronavirus.
The Emmy and Grammy winner, who was Oscar-nominated for the title track of Tom Hanks' 1996 film "That Thing You Do", was 52.
The "Stacy's Mom" singer was hospitalized after contracting COVID-19 last month, and one fan suggested he had been placed in a medically-induced coma - a fact his longtime lawyer, Josh Grier, disputed earlier this week.
"He's very sick and is heavily sedated, as are all people on ventilators, but no one has used the word 'coma' to me," Grier said.
Another attorney, Jaime Herman, told WENN, "The reports that Adam is in a medically-induced coma are inaccurate. His doctors have not used that terminology."
A family statement, also obtained by WENN, read, "Thank you for the outpouring of love for Adam and his family. Adam has been hospitalized with COVID-19. He’s on a ventilator and has been sedated to facilitate his recovery. He is receiving excellent care, his condition is improving and we are cautiously optimistic. His family appreciates all of the love and support."
Adam won three Emmys for his work on TV, as well as two Grammy Awards, and two Tony nominations for his musical "Cry-Baby".
He becomes the latest musician to lose his life to the killer virus following the deaths of country singer Joe Diffie, jazz trumpeter Wallace Roney, the Arrows frontman Alan Merrill, and Afro-jazz legend Manu Dibango.
Ironically, the news of Schlesinger's death came minutes after "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" star Rachel Bloom announced on Instagram she was a new mum - Adam was an executive music producer and musical director on the hit show, picking up the Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics Emmy for his work on the song "Anti-Depressants Are So Not a Big Deal".
Rachel revealed she was thinking about her friend from her home in New York. "The whole family is now home safe and I am just so grateful to all of our medical workers," she wrote on Instagram. "From those in our NICUs to those directly helping COVID patients like Adam, they are sacrificing so much to fight on the front lines of this war. Thank you thank you thank you."
