Doug Fieger

Douglas Lars Fieger (August 20, 1952 – February 14, 2010) was an American musician, singer and songwriter. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the rock band the Knack. He co-wrote "My Sharona," the biggest hit song of 1979 in the U.S., with lead guitarist Berton Averre.

Fieger was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of June Beth (née Oberer) and Bernard Julian Fieger. His father was Jewish and his mother was Norwegian. Doug was the younger brother of Detroit attorney Geoffrey Fieger, most famous for representing Jack Kevorkian.

Fieger was raised in Oak Park, Michigan, a northern suburb of Detroit, where he attended Oak Park High School. Before forming the Knack, Fieger played bass and sang lead in the group Sky, which was produced by Jimmy Miller. Sky released two albums on RCA Records: Don't Hold Back 1970 and Sailor's Delight 1971, co-produced by Miller and Andy Johns.

In addition to performing, Fieger produced the Rubber City Rebels' debut album for Capitol Records and an album for the Los Angeles–based band Mystery Pop. Fieger collaborated with the Rebels drummer Brandon Matheson as bandmates in the Sunset Bombers. They released one album on Ariola Records prior to Fieger's formation of the Knack. The Knack played its first show at Hollywood's Whisky a Go Go nightclub on June 1, 1978. In addition, they played other Los Angeles–area nightclubs including the Troubadour in West Hollywood. In 1979 they were signed by Capitol Records.

"My Sharona" spent six straight weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1979. It was the biggest hit of the year. Fifteen years later the track gained renewed interest when it was featured in the film Reality Bites. It was also featured regularly in a Saturday Night Live skit parodying Janet Reno. The follow-up hit to "My Sharona," "Good Girls Don't," stopped a notch short of the Top 10, peaking at No. 11. Their album Get the Knack spent five straight weeks at No. 1. Three million copies were sold in the United States and 6 million sold worldwide.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.