Five Man Electrical Band star Les Emmerson has died after contracting coronavirus at the age of 77.
His wife Monik confirmed his death in a statement, saying: "He had underlying health conditions that made him additionally vulnerable to Covid."
It's believed he died on December 10 at an Ottawa, Canada hospital, according to CTV News.
Devastated by the awful news, his daughter Kristina Emmerson-Barrett said: "I want people to know that he meant something different to everybody.
"He was a musician first and he loved his music, he loved his craft. He was an artist at heart, but he was so much more than that."
Les was fully vaccinated against Covid, but he contracted the virus in November and died while in ICU.
Taking to Twitter to react to the news, one fan wrote: "Canada has lost one of there best musicians......rip..Les Emerson....ty for the memories."
"I cannot believe we have lost our king. Rest in peace Les," another mourned.
"2021 just got a whole lot worse after hearing this news. Covid has taken one of the greats. RIP," another twitter user shared.
Meanwhile a fourth penned: "Saddened to hear the devastating news that dear Les Emmerson has died. May he rest in peace."
Formed in the '60s, Five Man Electrical Band were first known as the Staccatos between 1965 and 1967.
Following the band's split, Les went on to enjoy an incredibly succesful solo music career.
The singer delighted Five Man Electrical Band fans when he recorded as a solo artist, charting three top 40 hits in Canada, including his insanely popular no.5 hit Control Of Me.
And Les was still working on new music right up until he was hospitalised with COVID-19 last month.
“He was active and excited about recording because he thought the music today really sucked,” said Monik Emmerson, his wife of 34 years
“He never stopped writing songs," she told Ottawa Citizen.
Inducted in 2008 to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Emmerson was a gifted songwriter who wrote hundreds of tunes in his time.
