Sixties pop star Dave Dee dies aged 67

LONDON (Reuters) - Sixties British pop star Dave Dee has died aged 67 after a long battle with cancer.

The former policeman was the lead singer with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and enjoyed a string of chart hits including "The Legend of Xanadu," "Bend It, and "Save Me."

He died shortly before 6 a.m. on Friday at Kingston Hospital in southwest London with family members at his bedside, fellow band member Ian "Tich" Amey told Reuters.

Dee had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001 but continued to tour with the band, which had reformed in the 1990s.

"The guy kept going ... he was an out and out grafter. He never let things get too much in the way," said Amey.

"Three or four years ago he actually went in for little operations while he was on tour.

"He was a very busy man over the years and very well liked."

Dee had left the band in 1969 to pursue a career as a soloist but rejoined in the 1970s and again in the 1980s.

Dee also spent time working for WEA records, where he signed rock band AC/DC, pop group Boney M and electronic musician Gary Numan, and was a fundraiser for the Nordoff Robins Music Therapy charity.