The Scot had left the band almost a decade ago due to the effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Nazareth bassist Pete Agnew confirmed McCafferty death in a post on Instagram. “This is the saddest announcement I ever had to make,” Agnew wrote. “Maryann and the family have lost a wonderful loving husband and father, I have lost my best friend and the world has lost one of the greatest singers who ever lived. Too upset to say anything more at this time.”
McCafferty was a founding member of Nazareth, which formed in Dunfermline, Scotland in 1968, alongside Agnew, guitarist Manny Charlton and drummer Darrell Sweet. In 1973, the band gained fame in the U.K. with their third album, Razamanaz; the following year, they released Loud and Proud. Although the albums are largely unknown in the U.S., the song “Love Hurts,” from Nazareth’s 1975 album Hair of the Dog shot to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. (Rolling Stone)
In 2019, McCafferty released ‘Last Testament’, his third and final solo album, which followed 1975’s ‘Dan McCafferty’ and 1987’s ‘Into The Ring’.
Nazareth are known best for their 1975 album ‘Hair Of The Dog’, which featured the title track and a cover of The Everly Brothers ballad ‘Love Hurts’.
The band remained active, with Agnew as its only original member, and new lead singer Carl Sentance.
Earlier this year, founding member Manny Charlton passed away at the age of 80.
