Grayson Minney, lead singer for the Connecticut rock band Columbia Fields, died in a car crash early Saturday morning.
Police said at around 3:40 a.m., the 28-year-old from Amston lost control of his car, struck a guardrail, and crashed into a steep embankment off the highway.
Minney was driving on Route 85, just north of Route 94 in Hebron when the accident happened.
Columbia Fields, one of Connecticut's best local bands, had the honor of opening for Bon Jovi at the Mohegan Sun Arena after winning a 96.5TIC-FM contest in 2010.
The bandmembers, who all went to RHAM High School in Hebron, have been playing together since 2002, mostly in Connecticut, New York, and throughout New England.
Columbia Fields has also shared the national stage with The Backstreet Boys and The Fray. They said they get their influences from Cold Play, Jason Miraz and Dave Matthews.
State Police are investigating the cause of the crash.