Denis Payton of Dave Clark Five dead at 63

Denis Payton, saxophone player and founding member of 1960s pop group the Dave Clark Five, has died at age 63.

He died in Bournemouth,England, onSunday after a long struggle with cancer.

The Dave Clark Five, creators of hits such as Glad All Over and Bits and Pieces, were part of the "British invasion" of the 1960s.

One of the first English groups to tour North America,they appeared several times on The Ed Sullivan Show and were briefly considered competition for the Beatles.

Paytonplayed saxophone, harmonica and guitar for the popular band, a five-man group created in Tottenham in 1961.

Drummer and band leader Dave Clark called Payton "a very dear friend who I've known since we were teenagers."

Clark said Payton had been "thrilled" by the news that the Dave Clark Five has been nominated for induction to the 2007 U.S. Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame.

The bandsold more than 100 million records and had more than 17 hit singles worldwide, including Over And Over and Because, before breaking up in 1970.

Another band member, lead singer Mike Smith, injured his spinal cord in 2003 after a fall at his home in Spain.

Payton is survived by his partner and two children from a former marriage.