Australian singer-songwriter Jon English has reportedly died at the age of 66.

English had been in hospital undergoing surgery and it is understood he passed away due to complications from aortic aneurysm surgery.

A statement from Ambition Music Group says English died surrounded by his family:

“It is with great sadness that we commemorate the passing of Jon English.

“Jon died peacefully last night, aged 66. The cause of death was post-operative complications.

“At the time of his passing he was surrounded by his four children, Jessamin, Josephine, Jonnie and Julian, his wife Carmen, his sister Janet, his brother Jeremy, his nephews Jay and Jasper Collie, his grandson Jzawo and other close family members.

Last month his team shared an update to fans stating Jon was undergoing a “small operation”.

“It is with regret that we advise Jon English’s ‘Trilogy of Rock’ shows for this weekend at Tamworth and Dubbo have been cancelled due to unexpected ill health. Jon is currently hospitalised and waiting to undergo a small operation, but is expected to make a full recovery over the coming weeks.
We are very hopeful of working with the venues to reschedule both shows as soon as practical for all concerned and thank everyone for their understanding.
Team JE.”

Rest In Peace Jon English – 1949-2016 https://t.co/DKFIAkXeQf

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) March 9, 2016

Jon shot to fame in the early 70s with his role as Judas in the Australian version of stage musical Jesus Christ Superstar.

He picked up a Logie Award for best new talent in 1979 for his starring role in Australian TV series Against the Wind.

In the 1990s, he starred in Australian sitcome All Together Now alongside Rebeca Gibney.

UPDATE 12:15 pm

According to his long-term friend, performer Simon Gallaher, he was hospitalised for broken ribs when an aortic aneurysm was discovered.

“They happened just to stumble across this,” Gallaher told AAP.

“He was in Adelaide and I think he just fell over and hurt himself that way.

“I was chatting to him in the hospital and he was just there under observation, he was perfectly well in himself although this problem was there.”

“Jon’s partner Coralea sent me a text in the middle of the night, which I ignored. So it wasn’t until I woke up that suddenly the world had gone mad,” he said.

Gallaher said Cameron had been updating him on English’s progress, and that all was well until just hours before his death.

“We’d been in touch a lot and it was only yesterday afternoon that she texted me and she said `Jon’s out of surgery and all is well, fingers crossed’,” he said.

“That would have only have been 5 o’clock.

“And then at 3.20 this morning she writes to me: `It’s with very heavy heart that I send this message to you at this early hour, in the late hours of yesterday evening, Jon passed away due to the complications from his surgery for an aortic aneurysm’.”

“We’ve lost a giant of the industry,” Gallaher said.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

#RIP Jon

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