The Tokens singer Philip Margo has died at age 79.
He was best known for singing The Lion Sleeps Tonight, which was featured on The Lion King.
His family say he died in a Los Angeles hospital on Saturday after suffering a stroke.
Philip was a longtime member of American doo-wop vocal group The Tokens.
The group is most recognised for their song The Lion Sleeps Tonight, which has featured in numerous movies and TV shows.
It hit No1 in 1961 and remained at the top of the charts for three weeks, and is as well known today as it was then.
Despite its massive success, the band confessed that they didn't have a lot of confidence in the record before releasing it.
Philip once said: "We were embarrassed by it and tried to convince Hugo [Peretti] and Luigi [Creatore] not to release it.
"They said it would be a big record, and it was going out."
And they were right, it was a huge hit, only growing in popularity after it was featured in 1994 Disney film The Lion King.
"Now that it's current, we're current. I am thrilled," Philip said at the time.
The Tokens are also well known for songs I Hear Trumpets Blow and Tonight I Fell in Love.
Philip is survived by his wife, Abbie S Margo, who he married in 1966, sons Noah and Joshua and daughter Neely S Irwin, and eight grandchildren.
He also leaves behind sister Maxine Rubin.
