The folk singer’s hits include “Durham Town”

Folk singer Roger Whittaker, known for his hits “Durham Town” and “The Last Farewell,” has died. He was 87 years old.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news of Roger’s passing at the age of 87. His life, artistry and legacy meant so much to so many people all over the world,” it read in a statement posted by his friend Jesse Wagoner on Whittaker’s Facebook page. Monday page. “We are grateful that the gift of his music remains with us.”

USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Whittaker for more information.

A photo on the singer’s website pays tribute to Whittaker, who was born in Nairobi, Kenya, to parents from Staffordshire, England, in 1936. The multilingual musician was known for his whistling and cultivated a passionate fan base in Germany over the years. during his career after performing there in 1976, according to his website. He sang German and learned the language phonetically.

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Roger Whittaker “initially had no confidence” in his most popular song, “Durham Town”

After serving in the Kenya Regiment, Whittaker took up teaching in the 1950s and sang in local clubs during this period. By the time he moved to the UK to study zoology, biochemistry and marine biology at Bangor University in Wales, he began writing his own songs.