Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies at 31 in Argentina hotel fall

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) – Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans, was found dead Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local officials said.

Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, resulting in “extremely serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.

According to a police statement to The Associated Press, Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room.” Police responded to an emergency call just after 5 p.m. local time warning of an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” the statement added.

A 911 call the AP obtained has the hotel manager discussing an “insane guest who is overcome with drugs and alcohol. He’s destroying the entire room, well, we need you to send someone, please.” The manager’s voice becomes more frantic as the call continues, stating the room had a balcony.

Alberto Crescenti, head of Argentina’s state emergency medical system, said the circumstances of his death were being investigated, and an autopsy was to be performed, according to reports from Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel.

The singer had been candid about his struggles with alcoholism. The Backstreet Boys singer posted a YouTube video in July 2023 in which he says he had been six months sober after treatment. Emails and calls seeking representations for Payne could not be reached.

Dozens of fans of One Direction made their way to the Casa Sur Hotel across Buenos Aires on news breaking, where lines spilled onto the cordoned street outside the hotel, complete with police standing sentinel. Forensic investigators have been seen exiting the hotel, from where Payne’s body was removed around three hours after the fall. Young women filming with their cellphones exclaimed over the shock and tragedy of a makeshift memorial with rows of candles and bouquets that sprouted up outside the hotel.

“I didn’t think he was going to die so young,” 21-year-old Isabella Milesi told the AP.

Payne was one of five members of One Direction, which formed when they each auditioned for the British singing competition series “The X Factor” in 2010, two years after Payne’s first attempt to get on the show. At 16 the second time around, Payne sang Michael Bublé’s version of “Cry Me a River,” appearing nervous at the start but warming up with the audience’s cheers and applause.

After both of the singers were booted from the competition when they went through as solo artists, Simon Cowell and the other judges meshed Payne, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson into what would become one of the most successful boy bands-even though they lost the competition.

Every participant of the band had his defined personality and features; Payne, who is from Wolverhampton, West Midlands region in England, was identified as the exemplary one. Pop group and one with romantic hits like “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Night Changes,” and “Story of My Life” were the names by which the band soon came to be identified. Payne had showy solos on songs such as “Stole My Heart” and “Change Your Ticket” and co-wrote many of the band’s hits. They had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts at the time of their breakup in 2016 and a fan base that was fanatically devoted, known as “Directioners,” many of whom were teen girls.

“I have always loved One Direction since I was little,” 18-year-old fan Juana Relh outside Payne’s hotel said. “To see that he died and that there will never be another reunion of the boys is unbelievable, it kills me.”

With his very rapid rise to fame, Payne said he took time to get used to people staring at him.

“I don’t think you can ever deal with that, it’s all a bit crazy for us to see that people get in that sort of state of mind about us and what we do,” he said in 2013 interview with the AP after recounting an experience where a fan was in a state of shock at meeting him.

Once the group split, all of his former bandmates went on to do solo careers with a focus towards EDM and hip-hop music. “Strip That Down,” featuring Quavo, was released in 2017 and held the top spot at Billboard Top 10 and stayed on the charts for months. He put out an album called “LP1” in 2019, and his final release was a single called “Teardrops,” which came out in March.

He has a 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, with ex-girlfriend Cheryl – Cheryl Cole when she appeared with Girls Aloud. She was a judge on “X Factor” during the time One Direction appeared, although their relationship started much later. Payne was engaged to Maya Henry from August 2020 early this year. Henry published a novel earlier this year that she said was based on their relationship.

He leaves behind his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola, as well as his son.

Huamani reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalists Natacha Pisarenko and Debora Rey contributed reporting from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Officials have confirmed that Liam Payne, a member of the boy band One Direction, is dead after falling from a 14th-floor Buenos Aires hotel balcony on October 16, 2024. He reportedly had flown to Buenos Aires for a performance by his former One Direction bandmate, Niall Horan. The local authorities are investigating the death, which was described as due to erratic behavior before taking the fatal fall. His son, Bear is seven years old whom he has with ex-partner Cheryl Cole.. His sudden death stunned the fans and his close friends.

# What are some of Liam Payne’s famous solo tracks?

Some of Liam’s popular solo songs are as follows:

Strip That Down ft. Quavo: The song was his debut single, a pop-R&B fusion. Strip That Down managed to get to number ten in the Billboard Hot 10012.

Get Low (with Zedd) Upbeat EDM drop released in July 2017 Perfect for summer.

Bedroom Floor Weak and vulnerable R&B on the album LP1 from his thoughts about complicated relationships.

For You (with Rita Ora): Featured in the soundtrack for Fifty Shades Freed. Hit very many charts worldwide.

Polaroid (with Jonas Blue and Lennon Stella): A breezy dance-pop anthem describing love at first, literally at first sight.

#What was the difference between his solo songs and One Direction’s songs?

Liam Payne’s style in solo music was way different from that of One Direction. While One Direction was bright pop and rock, often with harmonised vocals and catchy choruses, Liam Payne went for the more urban and R&B vibes in his solo career.

His first single was the sleek pop-R&B combo “Strip That Down,” representing his desire to break free from his boy band tag14. Other tracks, including electronic and emotional features on “Get Low” and “Bedroom Floor,” showed the direction of much more maturity than before15. It highlighted the different exploration of personal themes and broader variations in musical genres compared with his time in One Direction.

#Which of Liam Payne’s solo songs show off his vocal range best?

Among the solo pieces by Liam Payne, one of the best examples of his range would be found in “Bedroom Floor.” The song contains emotional lyrics and gives a lot of scope for Payne to use his falsetto as well as his ability to express vulnerability and depth. That being said, its pop with an R&B influence is in contrast to his work in One Direction, showcasing growth over time as an artist and an ability to do far more versatile performances.

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# Has Liam Payne ever performed live to prove his vocal range?

Live performances by Liam Payne and highlighting his vocal range include:

“Cry Me A River”: When he was auditioning on X Factor, Liam demonstrated potent control and emotional depth-1,2,25.

“Through the Dark”: Performed live with One Direction, this was his chance to prove both his low range and more stratospheric range, particularly in solo renditions toward the end4.

“Love Yourself”: In his last appearance, he performed this Justin Bieber cover in a stripped-down manner, showing his vocal agility and the range to express emotional depth3.

These performances expose his flexibility to execute varied vocal colors and emotions with ease.

Some of the most memorable live performances by Liam Payne are:

X Factor Audition (2010): Payne performed the track “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia. He demonstrated his emotional range and control of his voice at such a young age of 16 in that performance, which made him one of the members of One Direction.

“Through the Dark”: This had many performances in live shows with One Direction and demonstrated Payne’s lead capability with his powerful voice. He performed it solo in his 2021 “The LP Show” livestream concert series, where he was seen as an artist.

Closing Performance (2022): In a stripped set, Payne performed Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself,” which proved maturity in his voice and was able to express much emotion in such a smaller setting.

# How were live performances with One Direction different from solo performances of Liam Payne?

Live performances by One Direction were very different compared to Liam Payne’s solo performances.

The hallmark of One Direction was robust group dynamics, harmonised vocals, and a sense of pop anthems. Payne regularly sang lead on key songs, using his impressive range as part of a group that focused on chumming it up with the audience.

While his group appearances were loud and boisterous, solo work was more melodic and personal. The way he presented his R&B influences through “Bedroom Floor” and “Strip That Down” gave him more vocal range in a less structured setting. His solo performances, stripped back, were often more emotional but also gave him the liberty to have more free expression through his voice, as those harmonies that dominated his group work would not be an issue on his solo shows. This was the biggest metamorphosis of him as an artist.

# What were some of the favourite family traditions of Liam Payne?

The search results did not provide specific information on what family traditions meant to Liam Payne. For example, he constantly explained how much family meant to him and especially focused more on the relationship with his parents and his son Bear. He shared many anecdotes about the simple moments of family, as well as celebrations during holidays and support for one another in the midst of hardships. Further personal interviews or biographies may be able to provide insights about his family traditions.