Pop singer Roger Whittaker has passed away. The British native died on Sept. 13, as his family announced Monday. He was 87 years old. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Roger Whittaker,” the statement distributed by record label Sony said. He died peacefully and surrounded by his family.
“Roger was a distinguished artist, a wonderful husband and father. He touched many hearts with his music in his life and he will always live in our memories.
Born in Kenya in 1936 to English parents, Whittaker began his career as a musician in the early 1960s. The careers of trained zoologists, marine biologists and biochemists only really took off towards the end of the decade.
His major success came in 1969 with the song “Durham Town”. His biggest hits include “Albany” and “The Last Farewell”. After the song reached American radio and the US Top 20 in 1975, it also had major success in Europe. In the UK it reached number 2 on the charts, just behind Rod Stewart’s “Sailing”. Later, Elvis Presley also recorded “The Last Farewell”.
