'˜Wonderful Life' singer Colin Vearncombe dies after car crash

The 53-year-old Liverpool singer suffered serious head injuries in the crash in Ireland on January 10 and was placed in an induced coma.

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

In a statement, his wife Camilla and his three sons paid tribute to the staff at the Intensive Treatment Unit of Cork University Hospital, saying: “Colin received the best possible care from the expert and highly professional staff there and we are deeply grateful for everything they did.”

The statement added: “The funeral will be a private one, but we will be holding a memorial service for him in Liverpool in the near future as we know there are many, many people who will want to celebrate Colin’s life and work. The date and time will be announced in due course, along with details of a charity to which any donations in memory of Colin can be made.”

Black’s single Wonderful Life was a top 10 hit all over the world in 1987. Its parent album sold more than 1.5 million copies and the follow-ups Comedy and Black were also hits.

His most recent album, Blind Faith, was funded by a popular crowdfunding campaign. It was released last year to widespread acclaim.