Derek A.E. Fuhrmann Obituary, Death – Acclaimed Los Angeles-Based Songwriter and Former Omnisoul Frontman Dies at 43 After Private Cancer Battle
It took me a day after hearing the news to truly wrap my head around the passing of Derek Fuhrmann. Derek was a musician and songwriter of exceptional talent whose work touched countless lives.
When we first connected in the early 2000s, my band IKE was in full swing, and his band, Omnisoul, was emerging on the Delaware rock scene. We quickly became close friends, sharing many stages and co-writing “Message of Love,” which would appear on the IKE album Where To Begin.
Derek even took the lead role in one of our music videos, portraying an arrogant rock star—the exact opposite of who he was in real life. Despite his remarkable gifts as a songwriter and vocalist, he was one of the most humble, genuine people I have ever met.
After moving on from band life to pursue songwriting in Los Angeles, Derek achieved tremendous success. His songs were heard by millions on the radio, performed by artists such as Phillip Phillips and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, among others.
In 2022, I was thrilled to reconnect with him in Burbank, California, when he joined me on my podcast Talking At The Diner. We met at the original Bob’s Big Boy—a spot he told me he visited weekly to bond with his son. Off the record, he shared that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
At the triumphant Omnisoul 20-year reunion show in Philadelphia last summer, friends and I had the privilege of joining him onstage to perform some of his greatest songs. That night, it seemed as though he had overcome the illness. He soon relocated to Nashville to await the birth of his second child, who arrived earlier this year.
This weekend’s news of his passing was all the more heartbreaking.
My heart goes out to his wife, his children, his bandmates, and everyone who knew and loved Derek. I will always treasure our friendship, the time we shared, and the incredible music he brought into the world.
Rest in Peace,