FireHouse Co-Founder & Lead Singer C.J. Snare Dead at 64

Snare’s daughter, Heather, tells us … her father passed away Thursday afternoon after a lengthy cancer battle. She says his official cause of death is cardiac arrest.

Snare helped form FireHouse in 1987 after his former group — Maxx Warrior — broke up. He stayed with the band for nearly 40 years until his death.

C.J. played keyboards and sang on all seven albums the group has released … including their self-titled debut album which went double platinum in the United States.

Among the group’s hits … “I Live My Life For You,” “Here For You,” “When I Look Into Your Eyes,” “Don’t Treat Me Bad,” “Reach for the Sky” and many more.

Perry Richardson — another co-founder and the former bassist for the group — tells TMZ … Snare was one of the great voices in rock history, and he will be greatly missed.

C.J. is survived by three children. He was 64.