Doug Fieger, 1952-2010. R.I.P.

Doug Fieger, the lead singer of the rock group The Knack, died today after a long battle with cancer. He was 57.

Fieger co-wrote The Knack's 1979 hit "My Sharona." It was inspired by a teenaged girl he met named Sharona Alperin. Today, she sells high end real estate in Los Angeles. Her website is - what else? - http://www.mysharona.com/.

Contrary to popular perception, The Knack were not a one hit wonder. Their follow up single "Good Girls Don't" was a Top 20 hit in the U.S. Since The Knack hit big during the tail end of the disco era they often thought of as a disco act but their sound was more new wave or power pop. But the disco perception hurt them and their time in the spotlight was shortlived.

But "My Sharona" would briefly return to the charts in the mid-1990s after it was featured in the movie Reality Bites. The song was also included on the iPod of former President George W. Bush.

There are thousands if not millions of struggling musicians who would give their souls to have composed a song that has had this kind of cultural impact. Doug Fieger was one of the fortunate few.