US singer Gene Pitney has died while on tour in Wales, his agent said this morning.
Jene Levy said Pitney (65) had died in a hotel room in Cardiff.
There was no immediate word on the cause of death but South Wales police said the death was not being treated as suspicious.
Pitney was best known for his hits Twenty Four Hours From Tulsaand Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart.
Pitney's tour manager James Kelly said the singer, who had been in good health, was found dead in his hotel room this morning by long-term friend Geoff Clennell.
"We don't have a cause of death at the moment but looks like it was a very peaceful passing," said Mr Kelly. "He was found fully clothed, on his back, as if he had gone for a lie down.
"It looks as if there was no pain whatsoever, which is nice."
Born on February 17th, 1941 in Hartford, Connecticut, Pitney initially had no real ambition to be a singer. According to his official website, as a boy he was more at home collecting stamps and coins, trapping mink and muskrat and experimenting with electronics.
But music gradually began to take over his life and he formed a band while a student at Rockville High School.
After high school, Pitney teamed up with singer Ginny Arnell and recorded for Decca as Jamie & June. The 1963 release of Twenty Four Hours From Tulsabrought him worldwide fame.
Pitney had 16 top 40 songs in the United States from 1961 to 1968, and he had 40 hit songs in Britain up to 1974.
He enjoyed a revival in Britain in 1990 when his duet with Marc Almond of Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heartreached number one.
Pitney is survived by a wife and three sons.