One of Italy’s biggest singer-songwriter stars in the 1980s has died aged 60.

Giuseppe “Pino” Mango was taken to hospital after collapsing on stage while performing one of his most famous songs.

Witnesses said he had just struck the opening bars of his hit song “Oro” when he raised an arm and said “excuse me” to the crowd before collapsing. He died later in hospital after suffering a heart attack.

Italian news agency Ansa described it as the “perfect stage exit for an artist.”

Mango was married to another singer, Laura Valente, and the couple had two children together.

During his career Mango blended Mediterranean pop with world music and folk influences, recording three of his 23 albums in Spanish.

And there was a further sadness for the Mango family – less than 24-hours later, while attending his celebrated brother’s funeral, Giovanni Mango aged 75, also collapsed and died.