Singer Paul Young dead at 53

[JJMMJJ]

LONDON (AP) - Singer Paul Young, who found fame with the band Mike and the
Mechanics, has died. He was 53.

Young collapsed Saturday at his home in Altrincham in northwest England from a
suspected heart attack, according to Virgin Records.

The singer, who enjoyed a string of chart hits in the 1970s and 1980s, broke
into the music industry on the German club circuit.

He later joined Sad Cafe, and the band released their first album in 1977.
International success came with the release of ``Run Home Girl'' and ``Everyday
Hurts.''

In 1985, Young helped form Mike and the Mechanics, along with Mike Rutherford
and Paul Carrack. They enjoyed chart hits with their albums ``The Living
Years'' in 1989 and ``Word of Mouth'' in 1991.

The band just finished recording their fifth album and had planned to tour
Europe later this month.

``We are all shocked and devastated by Paul's death,'' Rutherford said in a
statement. ``He had a fantastic voice, one of the best rock voices of his
generation, and aside from his musical talent, he had such an infectious
enthusiasm for the business.''

Young is survived by his wife, Pat, and their three grown children, Lee, Jason
and Ursala. No information about funeral arrangements was available.

[COBRAWALLY]

WAS HE THE LEAD SINGER OF THE SONG LIVING YEARS? THAT SONG ALWAYS REMINDS ME OF
MY DAD. THANKS FOR ANY INFO. WALLY