English rock musician Steve Harley, former frontman of the popular glam rock band Cockney Rebel, has passed away at the age of 73 after a serious illness, his family has announced.

"We are devastated to announce that our wonderful husband and father passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. The songbird from the woods he loved so much sang for him. His home is filled with the sounds and laughter of his four grandchildren," Harley's family stated.

In December last year, Harley revealed that he was battling cancer, leading to the cancellation of concerts scheduled for 2024.

Born in 1951 in southeast London, Harley spent several years working as a journalist in his youth before founding the band Cockney Rebel in the early 1970s, where he served as the lead vocalist and main songwriter.

Their debut album "The Human Menagerie" was released in 1973, and the single "Sebastian" from that album became Harley's first hit. The following year, they recorded the album "Psychomodo," featuring the songs "Judy Teen" and "Mr. Soft," which became hits and propelled Cockney Rebel to the forefront of the then-popular glam rock scene.

Their greatest success came in 1975 when the song "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" reached the top of the charts in the United Kingdom and eventually became Harley's signature song. It has since sold over 1.5 million copies.

After reaching the peak of their career, the band disbanded, and Harley continued with a solo career, also working for some time as a presenter on the BBC Radio program "Sounds of the Seventies."

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