Versatile playback singer KK died of a suspected heart attack after performing at a concert in Kolkata on Tuesday evening. He was 53.

Did you know that the versatile singer took up a sales job to marry his childhood sweetheart? Here are five such lesser-known facts about KK – 

1. KK’s real name was Krishnakumar Kunnath. He was born into a Malayali family residing in Delhi. 

2. His musical journey began at a young age. He would listen to his mother’s Malayalam songs recorded on a little tape recorder by his father. KK would listen to his favourite songs and hum along during school days. 

Also Read: Why Emraan Hashmi is trending on social media after singer KK’s death

3. He tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart Jyothy Krishna when he was 24. But before he could marry his ladylove, he had to find himself a job. He took up a sales job. However, after marriage, he quit the job and pursued music with his father and wife’s support. He made a few jingles with his friends and eventually left for Mumbai. 

Also Read: Why singer KK’s death is particularly difficult for the ’90s kids’

4. In 1985, his first jingle with Loy Mendonsa went on-air, and soon, people started taking notice. Music director Ranjit Barot asked him how much he would be charging for his first jingle. KK, who was completely unaware of the industry rates, did not give a number. Ranjit then flashed him his five fingers which made the singer assume that he would be receiving Rs. 500. However, when he got Rs. 5000, he was stunned.

5. 

Although he got his big Bollywood break with ‘Tadap Tadap’ from the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,’ his first Bollywood song was in fact ‘Chhod aaye hum’ wherein he sang just the first two lines.