Roger Whittaker Obituary – Death: ‘The Last Farewell’ Singer Passed Away At 87, Cause Of Death

Roger Whittaker, the British easy-listening singer known for his soothing voice and iconic hits, passed away on September 13 in Toulouse, France, at the age of 87. His family and Sony Music announced his death on his official website, stating that he passed away peacefully in the presence of his family.

Born on March 22, 1936, in Nairobi, Whittaker discovered his love for singing during his college years. In 1969, he released “Durham Town (The Leavin’),” a song that showcased his distinctive baritone voice and storytelling musical style. The song reached No. 23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

One of his most memorable hits, “The Last Farewell,” came in 1971. Co-written with Ron A. Webster, this folk-showtune hybrid went largely unnoticed until 1975. It gained popularity when the wife of an Atlanta radio station program director heard it in Canada and suggested it be played on their station. The song quickly caught on with listeners and reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, eventually claiming the No. 1 spot on the Adult Contemporary chart. Over the next four decades, Roger Whittaker sold millions of albums and toured extensively in both Europe and America.

Besides his music career, Whittaker became a familiar face to American TV viewers in the 1970s and early ’80s through his commercials promoting greatest hit collections and cover songs like “Imagine,” “Annie’s Song,” and “Feelings,” often released on labels like K-tel Records and TeeVee Records. Many of these commercials featured his trademark whistling, which endeared him to countless fans.

In 2013, Roger Whittaker retired to France, where he lived with his surviving wife, Natalie. Further details about his survivors were not immediately available.