Cilla Black has died at 72
Showbiz legend 'thought to have died due to natural causes'
Liverpool showbiz legend Cilla Black has died at the age of 72, according to reports.
The star, hit the big time in the 1960s with her number one singles Anyone Who Had A Heart and You're My World.
In 2013 Black celebrated her 50 years in showbusiness. Other highlights in her glittering career including hosting Blind Date and Surprise Surprise.
She is understood to have died at her holiday home in Spain overnight.
A Spanish police spokesman was reported to have told a national newspaper: “I can confirm the death of British national Priscilla White, aged 72.“We are still awaiting autopsy results but everything at this stage is pointing towards her death being the result of natural causes.”
According to reports from Spain, it is understood her son Robert, who is also her agent, was holidaying with her when she died.
A Spanish police spokesman confirmed today Cilla Black had died at her Spanish home.
She said: "I can confirm the death of British national Priscilla White, aged 72. We are still awaiting autopsy results but everything at this stage is pointing towards her death being the result of natural causes."
Most of the shutters were down at the entertainers house near Marbella this morning and there was no answer on the door.
Jade Wright of the Liverpool Echo, reflects on Cilla Black's life and career as the star's death at the age of 72 is confirmed...
She was the Scottie Road songbird who went from topping the charts to the highest paid woman on TV.
Fiercely independent, forever loyal, she worked her way from the typing pool to a household name, with her beloved Bobby at her side.
Born on 27 May 1943, she grew up in the Scotland Road area of the city. Part of a close family, her dad John Patrick White and mum Priscilla Blythen were both musical.
Speaking to the ECHO in one of her final interviews, Cilla said fondly: “We lived in a flat above George Murray’s Barber’s shop.
“I had a very happy childhood and all my family loved music. My brother George loved Frank Sinatra and Jim Reeves and my brother John loved jazz, he used to play the clarinet and saxophone, so I had a very musical family.”
She added: “On a Saturday night we all did a turn when we had a singalong back at ours once the pubs had closed. It was at one of these sing-a-longs that I did my very first performance, I must have been three or four and someone spotted me and put me on the kitchen table and I did The Good Ship Lollipop. I got a round of applause and after that I was hooked!
“Mam claimed my singing talent came from the Welsh side of the family and she did have a wonderful soprano voice. Although my Dad who had an Irish Catholic background claimed it came from his side of the family.”
She went to St. Anthony’s School and Anfield Commercial College, but always dreamed of being a singer and got a cloakroom attendant at the Cavern Club, where she was friends with the Beatles.
Tributes have already begun coming in from around the world.
This is truly devastaing news.
Our deepest condolences to the family. RIP Cilla xx
