Gary Leeds has died aged 83

Gary Leeds, the last surviving star of the Walker Brothers, has died at the age of 83 after suffering a stroke before Christmas.

The American drummer and vocalist is believed to have passed away on March 1 in Essex. 

His death was announced in a post on social media, shared by a close friend on behalf of Gary’s wife Barbara Leeds.

It said: ‘Our beloved Gary passed away this evening and I know you will all join me in sending our deepest sympathy and love to all the members of the Leeds family and their close friends.

‘Gary was the loveliest of guys and I take comfort in the knowledge that all of you here, with your love and messages on his birthdays and at Christmas, made him very, very happy that you all still cared and loved him just as much as you always have.

‘Rest in loving peace our wonderful Mr Gary Walker. We will all miss you very, very much and it was a joy to have you in our lives.’ 

Another friend of he family told The Sun: ‘I’m sorry to confirm that he passed away peacefully on Sunday 1 March after suffering a stroke not long before Christmas.’ 

Fans have flooded social media with comments, with one emotionally writing: ‘Condolences to Barbara and Michael. Rest in peace Gary, you were my first love and first love never dies’;

‘Such sad news, another tear falls…’; ‘RIP Gary, thank you for the wonderful memories’; ‘Goodnight and God bless lovely man’;

‘I am so sorry to hear this news. My deepest condolences to Barbara and her family. All our boys have gone now but they will never be forgotten.’ 

Gary is survived by his wife of 46 years, Barbara, son Michael, daughter-in-law Louise and baby grandson Robert. 

In 1964, Gary’s father financially backed him, John Maus and Noel Scott Engel as they started performing together as The Walker Brothers.

They were named after the fake identities which the boys – none of whom were related – used to get into bars. 

Noel was known as Scott Walker, Manus as John Walker while Gary dropped his Leeds surname. 

The trio moved from America to London in 1965 and enjoyed instant success with Make It Easy On Yourself, their version of the Burt Bacharach song topping the charts.

My Ship Is Coming In was also a huge hit and the following year they topped the UK charts again with The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore, which gave them their biggest US success.

Maus originally took lead vocals when they began making records, but the label soon realised it was John’s voice which should take the lead with Love Her being an instant hit. 

Their popularity among teenage girls soared but the strain began to tell.

In 1968 the group officially split up, with each band member going their separate ways. 

In 1975, The Walker Brothers reunited but achieved only one chart success, No Regrets, and disbanded again in 1978. 

Scott died in 2019 at the age of 76, while John was passed away in May 2011 aged 67.

Following the group disbanding, Scott’s solo albums, Scott through to Scott 4, were hailed by critics as ambitious and innovative.  

While Scott was the driving force for The Walker Brothers’ distinctive sound, the pressure of orchestrating the hits grew on him.

He said in 1984: ‘I don’t write songs for pleasure. I can only write when I have to – like I’m under contract, or to finish an album.’

Scott later shunned the limelight and explored darker themes and pushed his sound into more experimental territory, taking greater risks.