Singer Carl Wayne dead

BIRMINGHAM, England, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Carl Wayne, lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Move, died of cancer Tuesday at his home in Birmingham, England, at the age of 61, the BBC reported.

Wayne had hits with songs such as "Flowers in the Rain" -- the first song to be played on BBC Radio 1 when it began in 1967 -- and "I Can Hear the Grass Grow."

After the Move, he enjoyed success with the Hollies when he joined them in 2000.

Hollies Manager Jimmy Smith told the BBC, where Wayne had also worked as a presenter, his death had come as a great shock to the whole band.

Said Smith: "We are shocked by it because we didn't expect it to be so sudden. We have got a tour in the autumn and he was looking forward to coming back and joining us."

The Hollies' drummer Bobby Elliot said: "The Hollies and the world of music have lost a shining star, a true professional. It is a very sad day for the band."