Colin Vearncombe, the voice of Black, dies

London: Singer-songwriter Colin Vearncombe, who performed under the name Black, has died at the age of 53, two weeks after being injured in a car crash.

The 'Liverpool' singer, whose 1987 single 'Wonderful Life' was a top 10 hit around the world, suffered head injuries in the crash in Ireland on January 10 and was placed in an induced coma, reported BBC online.

He died on Tuesday surrounded by his family in hospital, his publicist said.

His wife Camilla said she was "deeply grateful" to staff who cared for him.

The father-of-three, who was in intensive care at Cork University Hospital, "died peacefully" with his family at his side "who were singing him on his way", a statement said. "Colin received the best possible care from the expert and highly professional staff there and we are deeply grateful for
everything they did," his wife and three sons said in a statement.

Fellow Liverpool musician Pete Wylie of 80s band The Mighty Wah! paid tribute to his friend on Twitter, saying the news was "just so very sad".

"I want to send all the love I can muster to Colin's parents, brother & partner + to all who loved him, and who he loved too," he wrote.

"I could still sing the very first song Colin recorded with me in the WAH! studio. I remember it that clearly. And that voice!"

Born in Liverpool in 1962, Vearncombe had his first top 10 hit with the single Sweetest Smile in June 1987 when he was 25 years old.

His second hit song 'Wonderful Life', which he had previously released but only got to number 72 in the charts, made the top 10 in the UK, Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, the Netherlands and Italy.