CJ Snare, a founding member and lead singer of the hard rock/glam metal band FireHouse, died in a tragic accident.
Carl Snare, who worked as CJ Snare, was a singer, songwriter, and record producer who had been in the business for more than forty years.
Who was CJ Snare, the singer for Firehouse?
CJ Snare was best known as the lead singer of the American hard rock band FireHouse, which was formed in 1984 in Richmond, Virginia.
Carl Jeff Snare was born in Washington, D.C., on December 14, 1969.
His family moved to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, when he was a child, and he went to Lock Haven High School there.
He moved to Orlando, Florida, after high school.
Snare went to Rollins College and studied theater at first before switching his focus to music.
Snare could sing, but she was also a classically trained pianist who played keyboards in a few bands.
While Snare was in college, he moved to North Carolina and met Perry Richardson, who played bass.
It was only a few years ago that Snare and Richardson were in a band called Maxx Warrior.
FireHouse was formed by Snare and Richardson in 1984, not long after Snare started making music.
Bill Leverty on guitar and Michael Foster on drums joined them.
The band got a big record deal with Epic Records in 1989.
They won an American Music Award for Best New Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Group in 1991.
Two ASCAP songwriting awards were given to Snare, and he was a voting member of The Recording Academy, which gives out the Grammy Awards.
During the band’s 40-year history, Snare co-wrote most of their songs. Seven of their songs made it to the Billboard Hot 100 list, including:
Aim for the Sky
Aside from Beyond FireHouse, Snare was known for making music with his other band, Rubicon Cross. Songs like “Don’t Treat Me Bad,” “All She Wrote,” and “I Live My Life for You” are examples of his work.
He also played with Scrap Metal from time to time.
Snare has been a producer and a mixing engineer in the last few years.
What killed CJ Snare?
Heather Snare, CJ Snare’s daughter, told everyone on April 7, 2024, that her father had died on April 5, 2024.
Heart failure was the official cause of his death, she told TMZ.
Snare was only 64 years old when he died, but he had been sick for a long time.
Snare was told in September 2020 that he had stage IV colon cancer.
Luckily, he had an operation the next year that saved his life and helped him fight the disease for longer.
But in October 2023, Snare had to take a long break from FireHouse because he had to have surgery on his stomach.
Nate Peck took over as lead singer for the band and replaced him.
Snare had planned to join the band again in the middle of 2024 for their summer tour.
In a Facebook post shared by music journalist Mitch Lafon, FireHouse said they were sorry for the death.
They wrote, “Today is a sad day for Rock N Roll.”
“It is with great sorrow we are letting the world know we have lost our brother: CJ Snare, the rock and roll warrior, lead vocalist, and a founding member of Firehouse.”
“CJ Snare died suddenly at home on April 5, 2024, Friday night.” He was only 64 years old.
“As you are all aware, CJ was expected to be back on stage with the band this summer after recovering from surgery.”
“We are all in complete shock with CJ’s untimely passing,” they said.
“CJ was was arguably one of the best vocal talents of a generation, touring the world with Firehouse non stop the past 34 years.”
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Snare family, Katherine Little, friends, and all our beloved fans all over the world.”
“‘Reach for the Sky’ CJ!”
“You will be forever missed by family, friends, fans and your band mates.”
After that, they said, “You’re now singing with the angels.”
Did CJ Snare have a wife and kids?
CJ Snare wasn’t married when he died.
He was, however, seeing Katherine Little for a long time.
Facebook says that Little works at Full Metal Chicken as an Accessibility Interaction Designer.
She uses the name “Kat Krash” on Instagram and other social media sites.
Little wrote a touching tribute to Snare on her blog, talking about the “8+ wonderful years [she] spent with this man.”
“It is with a heavy heart that I write this and it’s extremely difficult to find the right words,” she said.
“CJ died on April 5th.” “I love this man with all my heart; we’ve had eight great years together,” she said.
“CJ was told in September 2020 that he had Stage IV colon cancer. At first, the outlook was not good, but that didn’t stop him.
“We went for a second opinion and in September of 2021, he had a life-saving operation that gave us these last years with him.”
“He was so incredibly positive the whole time he was sick.” He was really strong. He never gave up. His only goal was to be the CJ you all love and know.
It got worse for him last spring, and he had to have another surgery in October 2023. He is now very weak after his last surgery and can’t live a full life.
“I’ve been by his side from day 1 and I would have never given up on him.”
“CJ leaves behind three wonderful children that are all so very special to me.”
“Things will never be the same.” I’m not ready for this. I want to say so much, but finding the right words is so hard right now.
“Please respect our family during this time of grief and keep us in your thoughts.”
Little also said that CJ Snare was the father of three kids.
He had three kids: two boys and a girl.
Heather Nicole, his oldest child, got engaged in August 2019.
She also wrote a touching Instagram tribute to her dad.
“I lost a part of myself on April 5th.” My dad died. I lost my rock star, my best friend, my confidante, my Disney buddy, and my biggest influence.
“Every day I will miss him.” He was the most powerful person I’ve ever met. Without him, our family will never be the same.
“Every time I pick up a microphone, I will think of him,” she said.
“Every time the stage lights hit my face, I will think of him, and I will think of him in everything I do.”
“Thank you, Dad.” “I am so grateful that you were mine,” she said.
Heather is the lead singer for the band Audio Exchange right now.
The last time Snare celebrated his oldest son Connor’s 16th birthday, he wrote a sweet message on Facebook.
“Hard to believe that you’re 16 years old today!” he told me.
“I used to talk and sing to you before you were born and I heard you take your first breath.”
“I helped you to take your first steps and soon you will be a grown man and walking away to start your adult life.”
“Always remember that in the best of times, or in those moments when you might stumble or need a helping hand, I am always here for you until the day I die.”
Today makes me think of how thankful I am to be a part of your life. I love you so much. With a red heart emoji, he wrote, “Happy Birthday, Son.”
The youngest child of Snare is a son named Hunter. He sometimes posts on his dad’s social media pages.
The last time Hunter went kayaking was with his dad at King’s Landing in Apopka, Florida, in June 2023.
As of April 7, 2024, neither of Snare’s youngest children had said anything public about their father’s death.
