ARIA award-winning singer and iconic The Horses vocalist, Margaret Urlich, has died of cancer aged 57.
The acclaimed solo vocalist from Auckland died at her home in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.
Australian correspondent for 1News New Zealand, Andrew Macfarlane, said Urlich "passed away peacefully", according to a statement from the family.
“It is with incredible sadness that we inform you that Margaret Urlich passed away peacefully on 22nd August 2022 at her home in the Southern Highlands of NSW, surrounded by her family after a courageous two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer,” the statement said.
“Margaret is a much-loved multi-award-winning member of the Australian and New Zealand music industry who captured hearts around the world as a gifted singer/songwriter with a unique voice and sense of style."
Urlich's career began as a co-lead vocalist with Kiwi band Peking Man.
In 1986, she joined the all-female group When The Cat’s Away.
The band members were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame in 2021.
It wasn't long until Ulrich launched her solo career.
Her debut album, Safety in Numbers, came out in 1989 and earned her an Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) award for Best Breakthrough Artist in 1991.
She also became the first female solo artist to top the New Zealand charts.
But perhaps one of the most iconic moments of Urlich's career was her vocals being featured on Daryl Braithwaite’s hit song The Horses.
Though she didn't appear in the music video, the hit song spent 12 weeks in the Top 10 in 1991.
Tributes have been posted across social media for the beloved singer following the news of her death.
Nine's Entertainment Editor and Weekend Today host Richard Wilkins took to Twitter to pay his respect to "the beautiful and talented artist who blazed a trail".
The official Twitter account for ARIA also shared a condolence post.
