For anyone who fell in love with the heartfelt, powerhouse rock music of the 1980s, his sound was unforgettable—a soaring, soulful saxophone that seamlessly blended heartbreak and hope in every note.
Michael “Tunes” Antunes, the iconic saxophonist for the iconic John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, passed away on August 19 from kidney failure, 1420 WBSM reported, just nine days after his 85th birthday and only 10 days after his final, poignant performance with the band he had dedicated his life–and music–to for over five decades.
John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band shared the heartbreaking news on their official Facebook and Instagram accounts on August 19, posting a video of Tunes playing his unforgettable solo from “Tender Years.” The accompanying caption was a moving tribute to their longtime friend and collaborator.
“Our hearts are filled with so many emotions today,” the message read. “Love, gratitude, respect, joy for our precious time together and sadness for our gentle fond farewell. It will always be one of life’s true gifts to have travelled the world over these many years within Tunes’ inner circle of love and magic on this amazing musical journey we’ve been blessed with.”
It did not take long for fans to flood the comments with an outpouring of love for the beloved rock star.
“I cherished every time I got to hear that Sax solo,💔” one fan wrote.
Another added, “Rest in Peace ‘Tunes’ 🙏 Thank you for the music and memories. ‘Tender Years’ forever! ❤️”
A third commenter who was deeply touched by the video wrote, “This performance makes me cry my eyes out there’s so much love in it.”
On Friday, the band shared another post on Instagram with a beautiful memorial image from Antunes’ family, announcing his passing “with heavy hearts.” It described him as a beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother who “filled our lives with music, joy, and infinite love.”
Fans continued to share their memories and condolences, with one fan writing, “Great memories from seeing Tunes back in high school in the late 70’s up until just last year. Heaven can always use another sax player.”
Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Antunes grew up in a family of musicians of Cape Verdean heritage. He played his first show at just 13 years old and was a fixture on the music circuit for years before he joined John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band in the 1970s.
Once he joined forces with the band, Antunes played a large part in helping to shape their signature sound that took them from beloved East Coast bar band to international stardom, Billboardreported. His saxophone was the driving force behind massive hits like “On the Dark Side,” which hit No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the beautifully aching ballad “Tender Years.”
Antunes also made a big splash on the silver screen. Not only did his powerful sax playing lend a note of soulful authenticity to the triple-platinum-certified soundtrack for the cult classic 1983 film Eddie and the Cruisers, but he also appeared on-screen as the band’s sax player, Wendell Newton. He even reprised the role in the 1989 sequel, Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!
Even during his final performance at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, his passion was undeniable. The venue’s Executive Director, Patrick Norton, who knew Antunes from numerous gigs at the venue, told The Standard-Times that another sax player handled most of the show, but Tunes came out for the finale. “Once he got up on stage, he really lit it up,” Norton recalled. “He was moving around. Sounded as good as ever.”
Antunes himself understood the powerful connection he forged with the audience, even without saying a word. In a 2024 interview with PBS Television, he reflected on his silent but commanding role in the Eddie and the Cruisers films.
“It might surprise people to know I never spoke a word in either of the movies, and yet people know I was speaking directly to them with my heart, presence, and the music itself,” Antunes said. “I’m truly honored to be associated with a world-class band, and a movie which still touches peoples’ hearts to this day.”
In his life, Antunes touched the hearts of countless generations of fans.
“He knew he was put on this earth to bring the power of music to people,” Norton told The Standard-Times. “[He took it seriously, and he did it very beautifully.”
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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