Alabama 3 co-founder Jake Black, who composed the theme tune to The Sopranos, has died after falling ill at a gig.

The singer died in hospital on Tuesday after taking ill on Friday following the Highpoint Festival in Lancashire.

Black founded the band with singer Rob Spragg in 1995 and shot to fame for co-writing “Woke Up This Morning” which was used for the opening credits of smash-hit TV series The Sopranos.

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The English electronic band broke the devastating news to fans in a Facebook post.

In a tribute on social media, they described Mr Black as a "comrade and spiritual teacher".

They said: "Early this afternoon, on a beautiful summer's day, our friend, comrade and spiritual teacher, Jake Black AKA The Very Reverend D.Wayne Love, passed over to the higher ground.

"After a magnificent performance at the Highpoint Festival in Lancashire, D.Wayne in his supreme wisdom, decided it was the appropriate moment for his ascencion into the next level.

"The transition was painless and peaceful. He was surrounded by brothers Larry Love, L.B. Dope, The Spirit, Jonny Jamm and Sister Therese Mullan.

"We are heartbroken.

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"All that remains for us, at this moment, is to carry out his precise instructions regarding the continuation of his teachings as a First Minister of The Presleyterian Church of Elvis The Divine, and continue The Great Work.

"His last words, which we have yet to decipher, were 'Tweet Tweet, Possil Fleet'."