GWENT singer Ricky Valance has died at the age of 84 in Spain, his agent has confirmed.
Born David Spencer, Valance, from Ynysddu, he became the first Welshman to have a solo British Number One hit with the song Tell Laura I Love Her when it topped the UK charts in August 1960.
The eldest of seven children, he went to work as a miner before his singing career took off.
His agent said he had been diagnosed with dementia and had been in hospital since before the start of the coronavirus outbreak.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVe6ZlywVMg
He started performing in clubs in the north of England before being signed and recording Tell Laura I Love Her.
The song tells the tragic story of a boy called Tommy and his love for a girl called Laura.
It spent 16 weeks in the chart, three of those at number one, but was to prove to be his only big hit in the UK.
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