Steam frontman, Gary DeCarlo dies aged 75

Gary DeCarlo has died at the age of 75.

The lead singer of Steam passed away while in hospice in Connecticut with his wife by his side after battling lung cancer, a close friend revealed on Wednesday.

He is best known for the 1969 hit song Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye, which was recently sung in Congress after the House passed the Obamacare repeal bill. 

Gary's friend Pat Horgan said the singer's lung cancer had spread all over his body.

'I try to stay positive,' DeCarlo said in 2016. 'But there is always the thought that you won’t get cured.'

In March he wrote on Facebook: 'Just came back from seeing my doctor, I have to start 10 weeks of radiation on my left side now. My chest and groin areas. I’m starting to feel like a bagel. This is gonna take a lot longer [than] I thought.'

On June 11 he added: 'Guess who has a fractured shoulder to go along [with] all the other medical problems.'

In 2016 a GoFundMe account was opened to help pay for his medical expenses. 

The note read: 'It is important to Ronn, Pat, myself and many friends to do everything possible to help Gary and his family through this dreaded disease. I spoke with Gary a few minutes ago and he is in good spirits and will keep us updated on his treatment and condition.'

Over $6,000 was raised.

His tune Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye was often played at sporting events when a team did poorly.

It was also featured in several films such as Remember the Titans with Denzel Washington. 

DeCarlo started his music career early with the band The Glenwoods in Connecticut. In 1969 DeCarlo along with his friend Paul Leka were signed to Mercury Records.

They went on to make the songs Sweet Laura Lee and Kiss Him Goodbye.

Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye came next with the song becoming a number one hit thanks to a radio station in Georgia playing it over and over. Other stations caught on and Mercury Records started pushing the tune. In December 1969 it was number one for two weeks.

Leka thrived as a songwriter; he died in 2011.

Gary relaunched his career in 2012 with several performances and in 2014 he released Long Time Comin.