Irish showband singer Joe Dolan has died today after falling ill on Christmas Day.
The 68-year-old sold millions of records and had a string of hits around the world in a career which spanned four decades.
The singer's management team said he had been with his family in Dublin yesterday when he was rushed to the Mater Private Hospital where he died surrounded by friends and family just after 3pm.
Dolan had suffered an illness in the autumn and was forced to cancel tours on the advice of doctors due to exhaustion. Dolan had been in the middle of a tour - due to include a sold out return to Vicar Street in Dublin - when he became ill in October.
Dolan's first job was as a compositor with his local newspaper, the Westmeath Examiner before he and his brother Joe joined the The Drifters to embark on a successful musical career.
After a number of hit singles in Ireland, Dolan became an international star with his song Make Me An Islandwhich reached number 3 in the UK charts 1969 and went on to become a number 1 hit in 14 other countries.
Dolan is survived by his brothers, Ben, Paddy and Vincent and sisters, Dympna and Imelda.