Singer and songwriter Martin Lee has passed away aged 77.

Lee was most prominently known as being a member of pop group Brotherhood of Man, after he joined the group in 1972 as lead vocalist and guitarist.

A statement was released on the band’s Facebook on October 1 to announce the death of their “great friend and colleague”.  Lee sadly passed away on the evening of Sunday 29 September from heart failure following a short illness.

The statement emphasised the group who “toured the world together in harmony” and have “many happy memories” together are in “total shock and cannot imagine a world without Martin Lee”.

Lee’s contributions to Brotherhood of Man saw him responsible for co-writing their three number one records, along with performing lead vocals on their 1976 Eurovision Song Contest track ‘Save Your Kisses For Me’ which achieved first prize.

The success of ‘Save Your Kisses For Me’ named Lee and his other band members: Nicky Stevens, Lee Sheriden and Sandra Stevens (his spouse of 45 years) Eurovision legends. The track topped the leaderboard during the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands with 164 points, more than 70 points more than Switzerland, the runners-up.

The single would go on to sell six million copies and earn the number one chart spot in 31 countries, earning Brotherhood of Man a place in the Guinness World Records book as the biggest selling Eurovision single and the biggest winner by percentage of vote. Lee went on to receive three Ivor Novello Awards for his composition of the track.

Lee is also responsible for Brotherhood of Man’s two additional UK number one hits with ‘Angelo’ and ‘Figaro’ in respectively 1977 and 1978, after co-writing both of the singles.

Born Martin Barnes in Surrey, Lee had spent much of his formative years in Australia, until the passing of his mother, which saw Lee and his father return to the UK.

It would be in his teen years where Lee would develop an interest in music, granting him to learn the guitar and form his first band.

Prior to Lee’s prominent presence in Brotherhood of Man, the singer-songwriter had played in the Johnny Howard Band and released a solo single titled ‘Cry José’.

Lee and Brotherhood of Man would continue to tour the world until their retirement from performing in 2020.

Even after his passing, Martin Lee remains a prevalent figure in Eurovision history and British pop music and culture.