Alan O'Day

Songwriter, singer, musician, and producer -- via the Hollywood Reporter. Though best remembered as the writer and performer on the 1977 pop hit "Undercover Angel," he also crafted many other hits, such as "Rock 'n' Roll Heaven" for the Righteous Brothers, "Angie Baby" for Helen Reddy, "The Drum" for Bobby Sherman, and "Train of Thought" for Cher.

He had a catchy way with a tune, and crafted bright, sunny ballads and strange, dark narratives as well. "Undercover Angel" remains a guilty pleasure for me -- bouncy, yearning, and absolutely absurd at the same time. (This is a prominent member of the vaguely masturbatory "dream" love songs of the period, which include "I Like Dreaming," "Dream Weaver," and "Imaginary Lover.")

Thanks, Alan! The world needs people who help us have fun! Thanks to you, I can still work on my White Man's Overbite funk dancing. Where are my acrylic shirts?