Claude Pepper

Claude Pepper, Founding Member/Drummer for Jack Mack and the Heart Attack Succumbs to Cancer

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The family of Claude Pepper (aka Jack Mack), and his musical family, Jack Mack and the Heart Attack, regretfully announce that Pepper (50), died peacefully in his sleep at his Sacramento,

California home early Tuesday, February 4th. His wife of 22 years, Debbie, and their sons Nick and Kevin were by his side. He had battled the disease for more than ten years. A private memorial service was held Saturday, February

8th in Sacramento.

Jack Mack, a native of Staten Island, New York was born April 28, 1952. He moved to Los Angeles in the late seventies, becoming a respected studio and touring musician who played with the Righteous Brothers, Three Dog Night,

Hudson Brothers, Mac Davis and Yvonne Elliman. Mack was a founding member and drummer of the popular R & B group formed in Los Angeles in 1980. While searching for a name, other band members discovered Claude Pepper's given name and decided to use it as the band's namesake. Jack Mack and the Heart Attack are still together after 29 years. Pepper departed from Jack Mack in 1987 and pursued other interests, moving to Sacramento in 1993. He is survived by his wife Debbie; sons Nick (20) and Kevin (13); parents Anna Marie and Jim Mack; brother Jimmie Mack; sisters Carol Torricelli and Kathryn Mack; and nieces Christine, Carolyn, Linda, Tracey, Stephanie, Tiffany, Chelsea.