John O'Banion, born on February 16, 1947 in Kokomo, Indiana, was an American singer. He began performing in theater at age 13 and joined a local band called Hog Honda & the Chain Guards. At 15, he hosted his own radio show on WIOU and by 20, had his own television show. John O'Banion's breakthrough came as the lead singer for Doc Severinsen’s band, Today's Children. His single "Love You Like I Never Loved Before" became a hit in 1981, reaching number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and won the prestigious Tokyo Music Festival Award in 1982 with "I Don't Want to Lose Your Love". John O'Banion also sang two songs for the Japanese period film Legend of the Eight Samurai: "I Don't Want This Night to End" and "White Light". He appeared in several films, including Borderline with Charles Bronson.
John O'Banion suffered significant blunt force trauma to the head due to a car accident or fall in New Orleans. This resulted in long-term neurological complications and frontotemporal dementia. He died on February 14, 2007, just two days before his 60th birthday, surrounded by friends and family at his home in Los Angeles.
