Cockney Insurgent singer Steve Harley, who had a success with 'Make Me Smile,' dies at 73

Steve Harley, a British musician whose glam-rock band Cockney Insurgent had an everlasting hit with the music “Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me),” has died. He was 73.

Harley’s household stated Sunday that he had “handed away peacefully at dwelling, together with his household by his facet.” Harley stated late final 12 months he was being handled for “a nasty most cancers.”

Born in London in 1951, Harley spent nearly 4 years of his childhood hospitalized after contracting polio, durations throughout which he started studying and writing poetry. He labored as a trainee accountant and as journalist on native newspapers, and commenced his performing profession at London folks golf equipment.

He fashioned Cockney Insurgent, which launched a debut album, “The Human Menagerie,” in 1973 earlier than foundering over artistic variations. With a brand new lineup and rebranded as Steve Harley and Cockney Insurgent, the band launched the 1975 album “The Greatest Years of Our Lives,” which contained Harley’s largest hit.

With its barbed lyrics – geared toward Harley’s former bandmates — and infectiously catchy refrain, the Alan Parsons-produced “Make Me Smile” topped the U.Okay. singles chart. It went on to be lined scores of instances and was used on numerous soundtracks, together with within the 1997 movie “The Full Monty” and in advertisements for Carlsberg beer, division retailer Marks and Spencer and Viagra.

Harley additionally sang the title music of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical “The Phantom of the Opera” alongside Sarah Brightman when it was launched as a single in 1986. He was initially forged within the title position for the stage musical, however was changed by Michael Crawford.

Ultravox frontman Midge Ure, who produced Harley’s 1982 observe “I Can’t Even Contact You,” known as him a “true ‘working musician.’”

“He toured till he might tour no extra, enjoying his songs for followers previous and new,” Ure wrote on social media. “My ideas exit to Dorothy and his household at this very unhappy time. Our songs dwell on longer than we ever can.”

Harley is survived by his spouse Dorothy, youngsters Kerr and Greta and 4 grandchildren. The household stated in a press release that they knew he could be “desperately missed by folks all around the world.”