Five Star singer dead aged 60 as tributes paid to 80s music legend

Five Star musician Stedman Pearson has died aged 60. Stedman was born in 1964 in Islington, London, and was the oldest of his group of five siblings - who came together to form the group Five Star.

Being the older brother, the musician had a relatively normal life until joining the band, with the star studying dance and fashion in college before focusing on the family music business.

Stedman was 19 when his father, musician Buster Pearson, decided to put his children's talents to use in 1983 and form a band. Five Star famously practiced in their living room in the early days of their music career, with Stedman using his dance talents to choreograph the dance routines for his younger brothers and sisters.

The group was often described as a British version of The Jackson Five due to their synchronised routines, costumes, and family links - as was planned by Buster - and became breakout stars in the mid-80s after managing to reach number 15 on the UK Singles Chart in 1985. The group climbed up the charts from there, with their debut album Luxury of Life soon being certified platinum.

Five Star won the Brit Award for Best British Group in 1987, but sadly saw their popularity fall in the 1990s after tension with their record label and reports of bankruptcy. The group soon splintered, with many of the siblings leaving to focus on solo careers and not reuniting as a full five-piece act again, Mirror UK reports.

Taking to X, tributes poured in for the late musician, with one writing: "This week i received the sad news that Stedman Pearson, the eldest of the famous Five Star eighties/nineties family quintet, has passed. I got to know him very well over 14 years, before being entrusted with his unpublished biography which was completed recently."

A second added: "Was hoping this wasn’t true but I think it sadly is. Anyone who knows me know how much I love Five Star; my childhood was a magical time thanks to their music, mesmerising dance routines and of course the incredible costumes. Such a sad loss. RIP Stedman Pearson."

"Very sad to hear about the passing Steadman Pearson of @5starofficial - who were one of my favourite childhood music stars... Condolences to @DeniecePearson , Doris, Lorraine and Delroy," commented another. Meanwhile, a fourth heartbroken fan typed: "I've just heard the terrible news that Five Star singer @StedmanPearson has passed away. That's a shocker!! R.I.P Stedman, and sincere condolences to the entire Pearson family."

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