Founder member of hugely successful UK reggae band, who had cancer, died at home in Birmingham.
The UB40 saxophone player and songwriter Brian Travers has died at the age of 62, the band has said.
The musician, a founding member of the reggae band, died at his home in Moseley surrounded by his family on 22 August.
A statement from the band said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our comrade, brother, founding UB40 member and musical legend Brian David Travers.
“Brian passed away yesterday evening after a long and heroic battle with cancer.
“Our thoughts are with Brian’s wife, Lesley, his daughter, Lisa, and son, Jamie.
“We are all devastated by this news and ask that you respect the family’s need for privacy at this time.”
Travers formed the band in 1978 with musicians from various schools across Birmingham, choosing their name as a reference to a form issued to people claiming unemployment benefits at the time.
The band have produced hits including Red Red Wine and (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You and have sold 100m albums worldwide.
They have had more than 40 Top 40 songs in the UK and are recognised as one of the country’s most successful bands.
Travers’ last performance with the band was at a concert in December 2019 held at the Arena Birmingham.
In March 2019 he missed the band’s anniversary tour after he had a seizure at home and was found to have two tumours on his brain.
A statement from Dr David Jenkinson, interim chief executive of the Brain Tumour Charity, said: “All of us at the Brain Tumour Charity are deeply saddened by Brian’s death.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and with everyone who was inspired by his career and the success of the band. His loss is a fierce reminder of why we must move further and faster every day in the battle against brain tumours, so that other families do not have to endure this kind of heartbreak in the future.
“We are committed to fighting for all those people whose lives are turned upside down by this devastating disease.”
The band lineup remained the same for nearly three decades until January 2008, when Ali Campbell left the band.
In June this year the UB40 frontman Duncan Campbell announced his retirement from music due to ill health and was replaced by the Kioko musician Matt Doyle as the band’s lead singer.
Doyle joined the most recent lineup of Robin Campbell, Jimmy Brown, Earl Falconer, Norman Hassan, Laurence Parry, Tony Mullings, Martin Meredith and Travers.