- His greatest hits include Durham Town, The Last Farewell.
- He retired in 2012 and is survived by his wife, Natalie
Image: SCREENGRAB
Roger Whittaker, a folk singer-songwriter has died at the age of 87.
His greatest hits include Durham Town, The Last Farewell, New World in the Morning and his 1982 version of Wind Beneath My Wings.
According to the Guardian, worldwide he sold nearly 50 million records since the summer of 1962.
He began writing songs and singing in Welsh folk clubs while studying zoology, biochemistry and marine biology at the University of Bangor at the age of 26.
"Whittaker had his first big breakthrough when he was asked to appear on an Ulster television show in Northern Ireland called This and That," the Guardian reported.
It wasn’t until he released Durham Town (The Leavin’) that he got a Top 20 hit in the UK.
"The song’s success took him by surprise, according to comments published on his website."
“I just didn’t have any faith in that song at all,” he is reported to have said.
“Far from promoting the single in Britain, I went off to Finland for a cabaret season and television appearances.”
Whittaker was born in Nairobi to English parents in 1936, and the music of East Africa left a mark on his childhood.
He studied medicine after doing national service in Kenya.
While studying for his degree, he sang in local clubs and wrote his own songs.
He retired in 2012 and is survived by his wife, Natalie
He married Natalie nearly 60 years ago after three months of courtship and are together blessed with five children.