Pop singer Dave Dee dead at 68

LONDON, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- English pop singer Dave Dee has died at Kingston Hospital following a three-year battle with cancer, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

The Wiltshire native, who was born David Herman, was until recently still performing with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich -- the band he helped establish in the 1960s, his representative Sean Cooney told the newspaper.

"He didn't let it get him down; he was defying it," Cooney said of Dee's way of viewing his disease.

Among his group's hits are "Hold Tight," "Bend It," "Hideaway," "Save Me," "Okay," "Zabadak" and "The Legend of Xanadu." The Guardian said the band spent more time on the U.K. charts than the Beatles between 1965 and 1969.

Before he became a successful musician, Dee served as a police officer. While still a cadet, he was called to the scene of the car crash that killed U.S. rock star Eddie Cochran and injured Gene Vincent in April 1960, the Telegraph noted.

In addition to his work with his band, Dee also served as a magistrate, had a brief solo singing career and was the head of A&R for WEA Records where he signed new acts such as AC/DC, Boney M and Gary Numan. He was a founding member of Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, as well.

Dee is survived by his mother Betty; wife Joanne; daughter Olivia; twin sons Ashley and Elliot from his first marriage to Carol; and Lesley, his partner during the past two years, the Telegraph said.