Steve Harley, singer of “Make Me Smile,” dies at 73

Mr. Harley was the frontman of the 1970s rock band Cockney Rebel, who had several UK chart hits.

Steve Harley, the 1970s British rock star who topped the British music charts with the single “Make Me Smile” died on Sunday. He was 73 years old.

He died at his home, his family said on Facebook. No reason was given, but Mr. Harley announced last month that he would leave the stage to undergo treatment for cancer and had previously canceled several concerts planned for this year.

Mr Harley was the frontman of the band Cockney Rebel, which he formed in the early 1970s.

His biggest hit was the single " Make Me Smile" from 1975, in which Mr. Harley's balanced vocals and melancholy lyrics sail over instrumentals with the upbeat sound distinctive of bands of the era. The song reached the top of the UK charts in February of that year.

Cockney Rebel graced the UK charts with further releases, including the single "Judy Teen ” from 1974, which reached number five on the charts that year, and a funky cover of the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” in 1976.

ImageSteve Harley and Cockney Rebel in 1974.Credit...Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns

Other songs enjoyed success outside of Britain. "Sebastian", a single featured on the group's 1973 debut album, "The Human Menagerie", ended up being a #1 hit in Belgium and the Netherlands, according to Mr. Harley's website.

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