ANP Productions | Source: ANP
Yesterday at 1:31 PM
London
Steve Harley, best known as the frontman of the group Cockney Rebel, has died at the age of 73. His daughter confirmed this to the BBC on Sunday. Harley had had cancer for some time. For that reason he no longer performed, although he reported at the end of 2023 that the treatment was going well.
Harley made music for more than half a century. The band Cockney Rebel was especially successful in the 1970s, but still performed. The group’s biggest hit was Make me smile (Come up and see me) from 1975. This kept the group in the Top 40 for months. The song has also been in the Top 2000 of NPO Radio 2 for years. The song was covered in seven languages. Other well-known songs were Sebastian, Judy Teen, Mr Soft, Love is a Prime Donna and Here comes the Sun.
In the 1970s, Harley had a relationship with the Dutch singer Yvonne Paay, a younger sister of Patricia. He came up with the stage name Yvonne Keeley for her. Under that name she scored a big hit with singer Scott Fitzgerald.
In 2004, Steve Harley received the Gold Medal from the British Academy of Songwriters and Composers. His family said Harley was “a wonderful father and husband who will be missed.” He died in the presence of his family. “Anyone who knew him will agree that his heart contained only positive core values such as passion, cordiality and generosity.”
