Two of the five original Hi-Five members have died, and the group has endured tragedy, crime, and reinvention since their early 1990s peak. The Waco, Texas R&B quintet shot to fame with "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" in 1991. Read on for a full breakdown of every original member and what happened to each of them.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Tony Thompson, the lead singer, died on 1 June 2007, aged 31, from inhaling toxic Freon gas.
- Roderick "Pooh" Clark died on 17 April 2022, aged 49, after being paralysed in a 1993 car crash.
- Toriano Easley was charged with first-degree murder in 1990 and left before the debut album was released.
- Russell Neal was charged with murdering his wife in Houston in 2014; he was later found unfit to stand trial and committed to a state psychiatric hospital.
- Marcus Sanders is the only original member still actively performing with the group.
Original Hi-Five members: profile summary
Details | Tony Thompson | Russell Neal | Toriano Easley | Roderick "Pooh" Clark | Marcus Sanders |
Full name | Tony Ulysses Thompson | Russell Neal | Toriano Easley | Roderick Clark | Marcus Sanders |
Born | 2 Sept 1975, Waco TX | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 27 Feb 1973 | Not confirmed |
Nationality | American | American | American | American | American |
Profession | Singer, lead vocalist | Singer | Singer | Singer | Singer |
Status | Deceased (2007) | Whereabouts unconfirmed | Whereabouts unconfirmed | Deceased (2022) | Alive, still active |
Reason for departure | Died 1 June 2007 | Left after financial dispute | Charged with murder, 1990 | Paralysed 1993; died 2022 | Still with the group |
Hi-Five formed in 1989 in Waco, Texas. Lead singer Tony Thompson, Russell Neal, and Oklahoma native Toriano Easley were childhood friends who started as a trio.
When Jive Records signed the group, they required a five-member lineup. Roderick "Pooh" Clark and Marcus Sanders were added to complete it.
The five original members of Hi-Five were:
- Tony Thompson — lead vocalist
- Russell Neal — member
- Toriano Easley — original member (departed 1990)
- Roderick "Pooh" Clark — member (departed 1993)
- Marcus Sanders — member (still active)
Source: Original
The group's breakthrough and discography
Their self-titled debut, Hi-Five (1990), produced by Teddy Riley, went platinum in the United States. "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991.
Their 1992 follow-up, Keep It Goin' On, went gold. "She's Playing Hard to Get" reached the Top 5. The group disbanded after Faithful in 1993.
Later releases include The Return (2005) and Legacy (2017).
What happened to Hi-Five members?
Tony Thompson: what happened to him?
Tony Ulysses Thompson was born on 2 September 1975 in Waco, Texas. He was the lead vocalist and public face of Hi-Five.
After the group disbanded in 1994, Thompson pursued a solo career. His album Sexsational was released on Giant Records in 1995.
He revived Hi-Five in 2005 with a new lineup and released The Return. Former members disputed the use of the name in a 2005 lawsuit.
Thompson died on 1 June 2007, aged 31. His body was found outside a Waco apartment complex near an air-conditioning unit. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as toxic effects of chlorodifluoromethane, he had inhaled a lethal amount of Freon.
Marcus Sanders spoke on Hi-Five's early career to Soul Culture;
We weren't thinking about the money.
Roderick "Pooh" Clark: what happened to him?
Roderick Clark, known as "Pooh," was born on 27 February 1973. He and Marcus Sanders were added by Jive Records to complete the group's five-member lineup.
During the 1993 tour for Keep It Goin' On, Clark was involved in a vehicle collision. The accident left him paralysed from the neck down and ended his time in the group.
Clark died on 17 April 2022, aged 49. Marcus Sanders announced the news on Facebook.
Toriano Easley: what happened to him?
Toriano Easley was one of Hi-Five's founding trio. He had been part of the American band from the very beginning alongside Thompson and Neal.
Before the debut album was released, Easley was charged with first-degree murder in 1990 following a dispute. He could not continue performing and was replaced by Bronx-born singer Treston Irby.
Easley is believed to have been released from prison, though this has not been confirmed by a reliable recent source.
Russell Neal: what happened to him?
Russell Neal was a founding member who left Hi-Five after financial disputes with Jive Records, following the second album.
In July 2014, Neal was charged with murder in Houston, Texas. His wife, Catherine Martinez, was found dead on the floor of their apartment with multiple stab wounds. Neal went to police to report her death, then asked for an attorney.
Legal proceedings stalled after Neal was evaluated by courts, found mentally incompetent to stand trial, and committed to Rusk State Hospital for psychiatric treatment.
Marcus Sanders: where is he now?
Marcus Sanders is the only original Hi-Five member still actively performing with the group. He remained a core member through all the group's phases.
After Tony Thompson's death in 2007, Sanders worked with Shannon Gill and Treston Irby to reform Hi-Five in 2012. They added new members Faruq Evans and Billy Covington.
Marcus Sanders is still with the group as of 2026.
How many original members of Hi-Five are still alive?
Two original members have died: Tony Thompson (2007) and Roderick "Pooh" Clark (2022). Three are believed to be alive: Marcus Sanders, Russell Neal, and Toriano Easley. However, Neal's and Easley's current whereabouts have not been confirmed by recent reliable sources.
Latest news
Hi-Five continues to perform as of 2026, with Marcus Sanders as a core original member. The group has been confirmed to be still touring. In 2024, they released "Slow Grind" with fellow R&B group H-Town.
The group's story was documented on TV One's Unsung in 2014, revisiting their rise to fame and the tragedies that followed.
FAQ
- Who are the original members of Hi-Five? The five original members are Tony Thompson, Russell Neal, Toriano Easley, Roderick "Pooh" Clark, and Marcus Sanders.
- Who passed away from the group Hi-Five? Two original members have died. Tony Thompson died on 1 June 2007, aged 31, from inhaling Freon gas. Roderick "Pooh" Clark died on 17 April 2022, aged 49, after years of paralysis following a 1993 car accident.
- What happened to Toriano Easley from Hi-Five? Toriano Easley was charged with first-degree murder in 1990, before Hi-Five's debut album was released. He left the group as a result and was replaced by Treston Irby.
- What happened to Russell Neal from Hi-Five? Russell Neal left Hi-Five after financial disputes with Jive Records. In July 2014, he was charged with the murder of his wife, Catherine Martinez, in Houston. The case outcome has not been publicly confirmed.
- How many original members of Hi-Five are still alive? Of the five original band members, three are believed to still be alive: Marcus Sanders, Russell Neal, and Toriano Easley. Two, Tony Thompson and Roderick "Pooh" Clark, have died.
- Who is Marcus Sanders from Hi-Five? Marcus Sanders is one of Hi-Five's original five members. He is the only founding member to remain an active performer with the group continuously through to 2026.
- Is Hi-Five still active? Yes. Hi-Five continues to perform and record. The group released music in 2024 and is still touring as of 2026.
- What is Hi-Five's biggest hit? Hi-Five's biggest hit is "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991.
Hi-Five’s journey remains one of R&B’s most poignant stories. Beyond their charts and timeless harmonies lies a history marked by devastating loss, personal struggle, and legal battles. Yet, their classic hits endure. Supported by Marcus Sanders’ dedication, Hi-Five continues to perform, keeping the group’s legacy and music alive for new generations of fans.
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