Brotherhood of Man singer Martin Lee dies aged 77
Martin Lee, the vocalist and songwriter known for being part of the pop group Brotherhood of Man, has passed away at the age of 77.
A statement from the PA News Agency, which was shared on the band's Facebook page, announced that Lee passed away on Sunday due to heart failure after a brief illness.
Brotherhood of Man gained widespread recognition after clinching victory at the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with their hit song "Save Your Kisses for Me."
The track topped the charts in over 30 nations and emerged as one of the highest-selling singles in the history of Eurovision.
"The statement expressed deep sorrow from his bandmates Nicky Stevens, Lee Sheriden, and particularly Sandra Stevens, who had shared a joyful marriage with him for 45 years."
Lee became the lead singer and guitarist for the Brotherhood of Man in 1972.
"Save Your Kisses For Me" triumphed at the Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands four years later.
The song took the number one spot with 164 points, finishing 17 points ahead of France, which came in second place.
According to Tony Hiller, who manages the group, the popularity of the song can be attributed to their television performances in countries like France, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland the year prior to the contest. As a result, the single achieved impressive sales of six million copies.
The group's popular songs featured titles like United We Stand, Oh Boy, and Kiss Me Kiss Your Baby.
Lee collaborated with Sheriden on several songs for the group, such as "Angelo" and "Figaro," both of which topped the charts in the UK.
Following their victory at Eurovision, they traveled the globe on tour, but decided to stop performing in 2020.
"We've shared countless joyful moments together, but right now we're in complete disbelief and can't fathom a life without Martin Lee," the group expressed.
Before becoming a member of Brotherhood Of Man, Lee had already put out a solo single titled "Cry Jose" and had performed with the Johnny Howard Band.
Born as Martin Barnes on November 26, 1946, in Purley, London, Lee spent a part of his childhood, lasting five years, in Australia.
