Country singer Kevin Sharp dies at 43

Los Angeles: Kevin Sharp, a country musician who topped the charts after fighting a gruelling, heavily publicised battle with cancer in the mid '90s, has died. Hecwas 43. According to his website, he died Saturday evening from past stomach surgeries and digestive issues, reported Variety.

The Redding, California, native began showing interest in music early in his life, and participated in local musicals during high school. His musical career hit a bump in the road, however, after

Sharp began to experience frequent dizziness and fatigue. Tests showed that Sharp was suffering from a form of blood cancer called Ewing's sarcoma.

After being diagnosed, Sharp underwent two years of chemotherapy and radiation, losing all of his hair as a result. His chances of recovery looked bleak at the time. His musical career got another chance after Sharp met famous producer David Foster, thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. In the mid '90s, Sharp gave Foster a demo tape, which helped him nab a deal with Asylum Records.

In 1996, Sharp released his first album, Measure of a Man. The album reached was certified Gold, selling more than 500,000 copies, and contained the song for which Sharp may be best known, 'Nobody Knows'. The single is the country version of the song the Tony Rich Project made famous and spent several weeks at Number 1 after its release.