Martin Lee: Brotherhood of Man Singer Passes Away at 77

Martin Lee, the renowned singer and songwriter from the pop group Brotherhood of Man, passed away on September 29, 2024, at the age of 77. Born on November 26, 1946, his death was announced in a statement made via Facebook by Brotherhood of Man.

In the statement confirming the singer’s passing, the band expressed:

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Brotherhood of Man’s Martin Lee, who slipped peacefully away on the evening of Sunday, September 29, 2024, due to heart failure following a brief illness.”

The statement also highlighted how Martin would be deeply missed by his bandmates, Lee Sheriden and Nicky Stevens, as well as by his wife of 45 years, Sandra Stevens. The band concluded their message with:

“Over the past 50 years, the four of us have toured the world together in harmony, creating countless joyful memories, but now we are in total shock and can’t envision a world without Martin Lee. R.I.P.”

All You Need to Know About Brotherhood of Man Vocalist Martin Lee

According to ITV, Martin Lee was born in 1946 in Purley, London, and spent five years of his childhood in Australia. In 1972, Tony Hiller, the manager of Brotherhood of Man, brought him into the group as the lead guitarist and vocalist, alongside Sandra Stevens, Nicky Stevens, and Lee Sheriden.

Martin became part of the band after Hiller’s original lineup for Brotherhood of Man disbanded. He married Sandra Stevens in August 1979, and they enjoyed a loving marriage for 45 years. Martin also had a daughter from a previous marriage, born in 1973.

Throughout his career, Martin Lee was the lead vocalist on “Save Your Kisses For Me,”the song that helped Brotherhood of Man secure victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976. The track garnered an impressive 164 points, surpassing Switzerland, which came in second with 70 points. Additionally, “Save Your Kisses For Me”topped the charts in 31 countries and was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the best-selling Eurovision single ever.

“Songs Are No Longer Songs”: Martin Lee’s Thoughts on Modern Music in 2022

In January 2022, Martin Lee participated in an interview with Express, during which he shared his views on the evolving music landscape and his reluctance to engage with contemporary Eurovision competitions.

Questioning the value of modern music, he remarked:

“The music has slipped away a little bit. Songs are not songs anymore, they’re just sounds.”

The publication noted that many British artists have distanced themselves from Eurovision since Brexit. However, Martin believed the event has undergone significant changes since his participation, stating:

“If you can’t sing with an orchestra anymore, what’s the point?”

In their Facebook announcement regarding Martin’s passing, Brotherhood of Man emphasized that along with being a “wonderful singer,”he co-wrote numerous hits for the band alongside Lee Sheriden.

The post highlighted Martin’s impressive achievements, including three Ivor Novello Awards, 26 Platinum, Gold & Silver Discs, and an ASCAP Shield for writing a top 10 hit in the United States.

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