Jimmy Gahan had two loves: sports and music.

Six shoulder operations forced him to give up most sports, but he continued to pursue his love of music.

Gahan, 21, went to The Station in West Warwick on Thursday night to interview the band Great White for one of two shows he did for his radio station at Nichols College in Dudley, Mass., where he was majoring in business and communications.

Gahan loved being a disc jockey for the station, said his father, James Gahan. He loved classic rock and country music, and had amassed a collection of more than 600 compact discs, including many from the 1980s, when Great White made its name.

At the time of his death, he had also been trying to get an interview with country star Tim McGraw.

His father said he had a cheerful disposition and many, many friends.

"He was generous to a fault, outgoing, and always wanted other people to have a good time," he said.

Jimmy Gahan, an only child of James Gahan and his wife Carol, attended Falmouth High School, where he played baseball, basketball and golf. His father said he loved baseball so much that he played through injuries.

He underwent numerous shoulder operations, which affected his school career as a left-handed pitcher.

"If he didn't have the injuries, he was a phenomenal baseball player," said his father.