If you haven't heard his outstanding cover of Michael Jackson's song 'Billie Jean,' you should listen to it right now. Though his solo career never took off in the same way that Soundgarden did, the music was just as good as you would expect from Cornell, powered by his unique voice. In the late 1990s, Chris Cornell began a solo career that would eventually span five albums. He founded the band Soundgarden in 1984, but they wouldn't find big fame until 10 years later when their album Superunknown launched them onto the charts with the singles 'Black Hole Sun' and 'Spoonman.' They were one of the most influential rock bands of the 1990s. News of Chris Cornell dead came from The New York Times this morning with the musician's representative Brian Bumbrey calling the death 'sudden and unexpected,' adding that Cornell's family would be 'working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause.' Since the news surfaced, Detroit police have informed The Associated Press that they are investigating his death as a possible suicide after a family friend found him in his MGM Grand hotel room with some kind of band around his neck.Ĭhris Cornell's work on Casino Royale is just the tip of the iceberg that was his career in rock. Therefore, we're sad to report that the rock musician and singer has passed away suddenly at the young age of 52 after performing with Soundgarden in Detroit last night.