Astro, a founding member of the reggae group UB40, has died at age 64

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Astro, founding member of UB40, in 1987.





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The four time Grammy-nominated band topped the U.K. singles chart with the cover «Red Red Wine,» a crossover American favorite, as well as a cover of the Elvis Presley classic «(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You» and «I Got You Babe» featuring The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde.

In 2013 Wilson left UB40 and formed his own version of the band alongside former members Ali Campbell and Mickey Virtue.

«Since Astro rejoined my band, it’s been a renaissance for us,» Campbell said in a 2016 interview. «Me and Astro is enough to make the fans happy, they’re voting with their feet.»

Wilson and Campbell continued to release music and perform, and were planning a 2022 tour for their last album, Unprecedented, up until Wilson’s death.

Earlier this year, another founding member of UB40, the group’s saxophonist and songwriter Brian Travers, also died following a battle with cancer.

• UB40