Emergency crews attended his home in Sydney just after midnight local time, where the 60-year-old was suffering from chest pains. He was accompanied by his family when ambulance officers took him to St Vincent?s Public Hospital.
He remained in emergency in a serious condition but went into cardiac arrest around 2.30am. Hospital staff were unable to revive him.
Thorpe was born in England but emigrated with his family to Brisbane in the 1950s.
He moved to Sydney in 1963 and recorded his first song the next year with his band Billy
Thorpe and the Aztecs. They went on to perform at sellout venues across Australia and had a string of hits in the 60s and 70s, including Most People I Know.
His music career spanned five decades and he also wrote two autobiographies.
His former manager, Michael Browning, says the performer was a ?genius? showman and, went on to say Thorpe created what became known as the pub music scene, and was ?king? in Melbourne. ?He was amazing. I remember standing on the side on the stage at the Myer Music Bowl in front of 200,000 people and watching Billy work the crowd, I don?t think there has ever been anyone in Australia that has been able to work the crowd like Billy Thorpe?.
Sad day, he was a fantastic singer and rockstar.
He will be sadly missed
He remained in emergency in a serious condition but went into cardiac arrest around 2.30am. Hospital staff were unable to revive him.
Thorpe was born in England but emigrated with his family to Brisbane in the 1950s.
He moved to Sydney in 1963 and recorded his first song the next year with his band Billy
Thorpe and the Aztecs. They went on to perform at sellout venues across Australia and had a string of hits in the 60s and 70s, including Most People I Know.
His music career spanned five decades and he also wrote two autobiographies.
His former manager, Michael Browning, says the performer was a ?genius? showman and, went on to say Thorpe created what became known as the pub music scene, and was ?king? in Melbourne. ?He was amazing. I remember standing on the side on the stage at the Myer Music Bowl in front of 200,000 people and watching Billy work the crowd, I don?t think there has ever been anyone in Australia that has been able to work the crowd like Billy Thorpe?.
Sad day, he was a fantastic singer and rockstar.
He will be sadly missed
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