Jim Post Cause of Death Tragic: 'Reach Out of the Darkness' Hitmaker Dead at 82

Jim Post, the famed folk music star who famously sang "Reach Out of the Darkness," has died. He was 82.

Post left the world in deep shock as the crooner died earlier this month. His ex-wife, children's book author Janet Smith Post, shared the saddening news to The New York Times (via Deadline), saying that he passed away on September 14 in hospice care in Dubuque, Iowa.

The singer, who famously dropped the song "Reach Out of the Darkness," died of congestive heart failure.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, congestive heart failure - also known as heart failure - affects a heart's capacity to pump blood efficiently. The serious condition, however, does not indicate that a heart failed or will stop working.

It remains unknown whether he was diagnosed with heart disease before death or if the condition occurred suddenly.

Fans immediately remembered Post's life and career following his death, with some radio stations planning to play his songs as part of their tribute to the late singer.

Jim Post's Life and Career

Post first found his love for singing when he won a talent contest when he was a first grader. That milestone led him to be cast for a performance on a local radio show.

Before his death, he revealed to The Chicago Sun-Times that he also became a "successful evangelistic singer" who sang in more than 500 churches.

The Houston native folk singer notably began the early days of his career as a member of Rum Runners. From there, he met Cathy Conn and continuously performed together under the name Friend & Lover.

Post had more than 20 records, but he was most famous for his one major hit song, "Reach Out the Darkness." It reached Billboard's Hit 100 by securing the No. 10 spot in 1968. It became part of several TV shows in the past decades, getting featured in "Let's Get Together (So Groovy Now)," "Mo' Money," "Night Stalker," "Aquarius," and "Beverly Hills, 90210."

His other works included "I Love My Life," "Slow to 20," "Back on the Street Again," "Ship Shape," "The Crooner from Outer Space," "Mark Twain and the Laughing River," and "The Heart of Christmas."

Post dropped his last record, "Frog in the Kitchen Sink," in 2000.