Rubettes guitarist Tony Thorpe, singer of "Baby I Know," dies at 80

Tony Thorpe, guitarist for the English glam-rock band the Rubettes, has died. He was 80. "It is with great sadness that we officially announce the passing of Anthony John Thorpe," read a statement posted to his Facebook page. "He was a father to Clay, a husband to Shirle, a friend to many, and a mentor to countless musicians young and old." The statement added that his recently failing health did little to diminish his "fierce intellect and sharp sense of humour."

The Rubettes formed in 1973 out of a session-musician team cutting doo-wop-inspired tracks, including the single "Sugar Baby Love." That song hit No. 1 on the UK charts in 1974 after the band, known for performing in matching white suits, played it on "Top of the Pops." It also cracked the U.S. top 40 and became the group's best-known song, alongside European hits "Tonight," "Juke Box Jive" and "I Can Do It."

Within the band, Thorpe sang lead on several tracks, including the country-influenced single "Baby I Know." He left the Rubettes in 1979, after which the group continued performing and recording in various lineups, going on to sell millions of singles over its career, primarily in Europe.

Alan Williams, the singer from the band's classic lineup, posted his own tribute to the Rubettes' Facebook page, writing that Thorpe was "mercifully now at peace." "Your brilliance with the axe and the pen cannot be denied and remains with us, never forgotten," Williams wrote. "Rest now Cowboy."

Thorpe is survived by his wife, Shirle, and his son, Clay. The Rubettes' catalog, anchored by "Sugar Baby Love," remains one of the more recognizable relics of the UK's early-1970s glam and bubblegum pop scene, a run of hits Thorpe helped write and perform before stepping away from the group in the late 1970s.