His band's time in the spotlight was short, but there would be few Australians who grew up in the 1980s that would not remember local synthpop band Wa Wa Nee and their spiky-haired, keytar-wielding lead singer, Paul Gray. Tragically, the versatile musician has passed away aged 54 following a four-year battle with myeloma.
Best known for top 10 hits "Stimulation", "I Could Make You Love Me" and "Sugar Free", Wa Wa Nee were one of a select group of successful bands in Australia not to come from the pub rock circuit, and made inroads into the US chart when "Sugar Free" became a top 40 hit there in 1987.
Following the break-up of Wa Wa Nee at the end of the '80s, Gray continued to work in the music industry as an in-demand keyboard player, musical director and, more recently, as a regular on the retro concert circuit.
Highly regarded within the Australian music industry, Gray's illness was not widely know and his death has prompted heartfelt tributes from fellow artists and fans alike.