UB40 songwriter and sax player and songwriter Brian Travers has died at the age of 62, the band has announced.
The musician, a founding member of the reggae band, died at his home in Moseley surrounded by his family on August 22.
A statement from the band to the PA news agency said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our comrade, brother, founding UB40 member and musical legend, Brian David Travers.
"Brian passed away yesterday evening 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 formed the band in 1978 with his bandmates from various school across Birmingham, choosing their name as a reference to a form issued to people claiming unemployment benefits at the time.
The band produced hits including Red Red Wine and Falling In Love With You and has sold 100 million albums worldwide.
They have scored more than 40 top 40 songs in the UK and are recognised as one of the UK’s most successful bands.
Travers' last performance with the band was at a concert in December 2019 held at the Arena Birmingham.
The band line-up remained the same for nearly three decades until January 2008, when Ali Campbell departed.
In June this year UB40 frontman Duncan Campbell announced his retirement from music due to ill health and was replaced by Kioko musician Matt Doyle as the band's lead singer.
Doyle joined the most recent line-up of Robin Campbell, Jimmy Brown, Earl Falconer, Norman Hassan, Laurence Parry, Tony Mullings, Martin Meredith and Travers.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here