Brotherhood Of Man's Martin Lee dies aged 77

The British pop group celebrated a big victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands in 1976.

Martin Lee, a member of the Eurovision-winning group Brotherhood Of Man from 1976, has passed away at the age of 77.

The British group clinched victory in the contest with their song "Save Your Kisses For Me." This track later reached the number one spot on the charts in the UK and more than 30 other countries, with sales reaching six million copies.

"We are deeply saddened to share the news of the loss of our dear friend and fellow musician, Martin Lee of Brotherhood Of Man. He peacefully passed away on the evening of Sunday, September 29, 2024, due to heart failure following a brief illness," the band expressed in a statement.

In 1972, Lee became the lead singer and guitarist for the band, teaming up with Lee Sheriden and siblings Sandra and Nicky Stevens, as suggested by their manager, Tony Hiller, following the departure of the original lineup.

The success at Eurovision came after Brotherhood Of Man achieved their first European hit with "Kiss Me Kiss Your Baby." This victory inspired the group to write a song for the Eurovision Song Contest.

The second group achieved 26 awards, including platinum, gold, and silver discs, and received three Ivor Novello Awards. In 1978, they released the Twenty Greatest compilation, which made it into the UK top 10 albums. They ceased performing in 2020.

Lee was born in 1946 in Purley, London, and spent five years of his childhood in Australia. Later, he married his fellow band member, Sandra Stevens.

"The band mentioned that Nicky Stevens, Lee Sheriden, and particularly Sandra Stevens, who had been married to him for 45 joyful years, will deeply miss him."

For the last five decades, the four of us have traveled the globe together, sharing wonderful moments and experiences. It's hard to believe that we're now facing this heartbreaking reality. We are in complete disbelief and find it difficult to picture life without Martin Lee, who will always be remembered.