Terry "Thunder" Hughley, best known as the drummer for Sun Messengers, died Friday, June 26, 2015 after suffering a severe asthma attack at his home in Detroit. He was 61.



Born in Detroit and raised on the city's northwest side and in Highland Park, Terry Hughley began playing drums at the age of 16 after receiving a kit from his mother. He studied at Detroit's Metro Jazz Workshop.



One of Terry Hughley's first jobs was playing for former Temptations singer David Ruffin. He went on to work over the years with Mitch Ryder, the Dramatics, the Floaters & Enchantment, the Coasters, Kim Weston, Sir Mack Rice and Black Merda and even backing boxing champion Larry Holmes during his attempt at a singing career. Hughley was also part of recording sessions for commercials for Toyota, car dealerships, Betty Crocker and Mr. Allen’s Shoes. and he led his own group, the Terry Thunder Express.



Grammy and Emmy Award-winning producer Don Was used to recruit Terry Hughley in the band for his Concert of Colors showcase each year.



Sun Messengers co-founder Rick Steiger, who brought Terry Hughley into the Sun Messengers during the fall of 1990 and eventually made the drummer the group's music director, remembers him as a multi-talented individual.