Eurovision star Colin Gibb has died aged 70.
The Black Lace singer tragically passed away on Sunday, just days after he announced his retirement to his fans.
His heartbroken wife Sue Kelly paid a heartfelt tribute to her beloved husband as she shared the news with fans.
Sue said Colin was ‘so happy and looking forward to his new life’, as they were due to fly to Spain on Thursday and start his retirement together.
She wrote on Facebook: ‘I love you Colin, spent 22 years living your Agadoo dream, we were due to retire to Spain on Thursday, you were so happy, so looking forward to our new life, now you’re gone. As we used to say, always love you forever.’
Eurovision star Colin Gibb has died aged 70 just days after announcing retirement – his wife Sue Kelly (pictured) paid a heartfelt tribute after shared the tragic news with fans
Colin was the longest-standing member of Black Lace, which was famed for their hit tunes Agadoo and Do the Conga (Colin pictured with bandmates Alan Barton, Steve Scholey and Nigel Scott in 1979)
While Colin stuck with the band for many decades, Black Lace had a number of changes to their group over the years.
The group, which consisted of Colin and bandmates Alan Barton, Steve Scholey and Nigel Scott, finished seventh in the Eurovision as they represented the UK in 1979 with their hit song Mary Ann.
Black Lace led the tributes to their ‘great friend’ after wife Sue announced his passing, sharing a heartfelt message on the band’s official Facebook page.
It read: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our great friend Colin Gibb.
‘Colin was one of the founder members of Black Lace, together with Alan Barton, and will be truly missed by everyone who knew him.
‘We’d like to send his family and friends all our love and support at this extremely difficult time.’
Colin revealed May 13 with his fans that ‘all good things must come to an end’ as he announced his retirement.
He was due to hold one last show this week in Spain, to thanks his fans for supporting him over the many years.
Sue said Colin was ‘so happy and looking forward to his new life’, as they were due to fly to Spain on Thursday and start his retirement together
She wrote on Facebook : ‘I love you Colin, spent 22 years living your Agadoo dream, we were due to retire to Spain on Thursday, you were so happy, so looking forward to our new life, now you’re gone. As we used to say, always love you forever.’
While Colin stuck with the band for many decades, Black Lace had a number of changes to their group over the years (Colin Gibb, Alan Barton, Steve Scholey and Nigel Scott pictured)
Black Lace led the tributes to their ‘great friend’ after wife Sue announced his passing, sharing a heartfelt message on the band’s official Facebook page
Colin revealed May 13 with his fans that ‘all good things must come to an end’ as he announced his retirement
After sharing an initial post about his passing, Sue thanked fans for their kind posts and revealed Colin wanted everyone to wear Agadoo shirts to his funeral
He wrote: ‘Well all good things must come to an end. I have decided to retire. My last show will be on Thursday at Villa Adeje Beach Hotel, in San Eugeneo.
‘Thanks to all of you that have supported “Black Lace” over the years, and the thousands of friends I have met during that time, since we set out in 1975.’
After sharing an initial post about his passing, Sue thanked fans for their kind posts and revealed Colin wanted everyone to wear Agadoo shirts to his funeral.
She wrote: ‘Can’t thank everyone individually for your lovely kind posts for my beloved husband Colin. Thankyou. I will let you all know when his funeral will be.
‘Colin and I talked about our funerals and what we’d want. He said his was everyone wear agadoo shirts or “s*** shirts ” as they were called to his funeral, so please, everyone welcome, but full fill his final dream.
‘Colin didn’t want flowers, he wants any donations to his love of cats. So to a cat charity please. Let’s honour his wishes, he gave us so many memories.
‘Thankyou from his devastated wife Sue x’
Fellow Black Lace member, Dene Michael also shared a sweet tribute after hearing about the loss of his friend.
The group is famed for when Colin starred alongside bandmates Alan Barton, Steve Scholey and Nigel Scott (pictured during Eurovision contest in 1979)
He wrote: ‘So sad to hear the passing of my singing partner with Black Lace RIP my friend Colin Gibb. God Bless. We had some great times together touring the world.’
Colin was the longest-standing member of Black Lace, which was famed for their hit tunes Agadoo and Do the Conga.
Agadoo made it to number two in the charts in 1984, picked up the dubious honour by triumphing in a poll for respected music magazine Q.
Black Lace enjoyed a string of novelty hits in the 1980s but the duo were unable to match the success of the track which stayed in the UK top 75 for a colossal 30 weeks.
Agadoo, which was accompanied by a silly dance, was only held off the number one slot by George Michael’s Careless Whisper.
Alan – who was killed in a bus crash in 1995 – once said of the song: ‘It was a good party song, I’m not going to knock it.’