Eighties music legend Paul Hardcastle has announced the tragic death of his son, Paul Hardcastle Jr, who died at the age of 35 following a fatal motorcycle accident. The 68-year-old singer, composer, and producer shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram, posting a childhood photo alongside a short message: “Just to let you know that my super talented son Paul Hardcastle Jnr was in a fatal motorcycle accident earlier and has sadly died. RIP son love Dad.” Paul Jr followed in his father’s musical footsteps, earning recognition as a DJ and saxophonist. He appeared on his father’s 2008 album Hardcastle 5 and later worked on Hardcastle X in 2022. His debut single Touch and Go, produced by his father in 2010, reached number one on the USA Billboard Jazz Chart, marking a promising career cut short far too soon.

Paul Hardcastle Sr is best known for his 1985 hit 19 and for composing The Wizard, the iconic theme for BBC’s Top of the Pops. Friends and fans, including James Argent and Hayley Palmer, shared emotional tributes online. The tragedy is made even more poignant by the fact that Paul Sr once survived a serious motorcycle accident himself, spending months in hospital as a young man. Now, he mourns the loss of a son who not only shared his talent, but also his passion for music — leaving behind a legacy of sound, memory, and love.