Brian Travers, the saxophonist and co-founding member of the English band UB40 has passed away at the age of 62.
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“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our comrade, brother, founding UB40 member and musical legend, Brian David Travers,” the band shared in a statement on Twitter. “Brian passed away yesterday evening with his family by his side, 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 was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March 2019 and missed the UB40 40th anniversary tour as he recovered.
“I’ve had a great life with no regrets and have absolutely nothing to add to a bucket list except getting over this and getting back to the thing I love, playing music to anyone who wants to listen and expressing myself through painting & sculpture. It’s been a huge privilege and I thank you all for the opportunity to ‘live the dream,” he said in a statement on the band’s website at the time of his diagnosis.
Travers formed UB40 in 1978 alongside Ali Campbell, Robin Campbell, Earl Falconer, Jimmy Brown, and Norman Hassan. The bandmates all knew each other from various schools across Birmingham, England as they experienced quick success in their home country.
Their 1983 album Labour of Love yielded the band’s most popular song, “Red Red Wine.” The song went on to become a worldwide hit peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
If you’d like to hear more music from UB40 and other classics from their heyday, be sure to check out Audacy’s The 80s Exclusive Station now.
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