Rod Allen, lead singer and bass player for sixties pop band The Fortunes, has died aged 63 after losing a fight with liver cancer.
A statement on the band's website reads: "After a very short illness, Rod quietly and peacefully passed away with his family around him at his home in Coventry on Thursday 10th January at 1am. Rod's terrible illness was diagnosed just two short months ago and we all held our breath and hoped and prayed that his treatment would succeed... but it wasn't to be".
Birmingham band The Fortunes enjoyed chart success around the world in the sixties with songs like 'You've Got Your Troubles' and 'Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again', while in the US they became associated with Coke after providing songs for the drink brand's ad campaigns, singing 'Things Go Better With Coke' in 1967 and 'It's The Real Thing' in 1969.
Allen fronted the band through a series of line up changes over the years, though the current version of the band have said they will continue despite the frontman's death, explaining: "Rod's wish was for The Fortunes to continue, so we will do our utmost to keep his legacy alive and make The Fortunes a group that Rod would be proud of".