Five Star singer Stedman Pearson has tragically passed away aged 60, MailOnline can reveal.
The Eighties star enjoyed huge success with his band including notching six Top 10 singles, including hit Rain or Shine which reached No2 in the charts.
The British RnB act were formed in Romford, Essex, in 1983 and their biggest honour was winning a Brit Award in 1987 for Best Group.
The band were formed of siblings – Stedman, his brother Delroy, and sisters Lorraine, Denise and Doris, and they were known for their glamorous image, matching costumes and dance routines.
The five became three in 2001, with Stedman continuing to perform with his sisters Denis and Lorraine.
Five Star singer Stedman Pearson (pictured in 2012) has tragically passed away aged 60
Stedman Pearson pictured with his siblings and fellow Five Star bandmates Lorraine Pearson, Denise Pearson, Doris Pearson and Delroy Pearson
Five Star band members, the Pearson siblings take part in a photoshoot in May 1986
Stedman pictured with his sister Denise during a party in London in September 2011
Stedman Pearson, Lorraine Pearson, Denise Pearson, Doris Pearson, and Delroy Pearson at the Smile Jamaica concert in aid of the Hurricane Gilbert disaster in 1988
Stedman is the eldest of his five siblings and was just 19 when the band formed.
Tribute have been pouring in for the late Brit Pop star following the news of his death this morning.
One person on X wrote: ‘I got to know him well over 14 years, before being entrusted with his unpublished biography which was completed recently.’
Another added: ‘Woke up to learn of my friends passing….HE was one of the gentlest and lovely people I knew.. an awesome dancer with just a childlike zest for life….you made a huge difference to my life and will be missed muchly !!!’
Five Star came together in the mid 80s and was masterminded by their father Buster Pearson – a former recording artist who was also their manager.
They released their debut single – in 1983, although their chart breakthrough did not come until 1985 with the release of All Fall Down, which rose to number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.
Between 1985 and 1988, the group released four top-20 albums and 15 top-40 singles in the UK.
