Justin Cary, the longtime bassist of Sixpence None the Richer, has died at the age of 50 following a stroke and subsequent medical complications.
The musician passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 18, with his wife Linda at his bedside, according to a statement posted on a GoFundMe page established to support the couple.
Mr Cary had suffered a serious stroke on June 11 and was admitted to Albany Medical Center in New York, where he underwent two surgical procedures and was placed in intensive care.
By Wednesday, June 17, he remained in the ICU and had been put on a respirator, with his wife reading to him at his bedside in the hope he could hear her.
Matt Slocum, Leigh Nash and Justin Cary of Sixpence None the Richer in 2012
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"Please continue to pray and give strength during this very difficult time," the fundraising page stated following his death.
The band's frontwoman Leigh Nash, 49, paid heartfelt tribute to her bandmate of three decades on Instagram following his death.
"'We sure had a great time' is an understatement. Thank you, Justin," she wrote.
"We love you forever. Please keep his dear Linda close to your hearts. She is our family. There's never been anybody like Justin."
In a separate tribute shared to her Instagram Stories, Nash described Cary as "kind, talented, and one of the funniest people I've ever met."
She recalled how she would always make sure to catch the finale of Kiss Me during performances because of a distinctive bass flourish he played that "tickled my brain so good."
Earlier in the week, Ms Nash had praised his "second to NONE professionalism, class, humor" and wit, describing him as "tough as an old boot."
Mr Cary became a member of Sixpence None the Richer in 1997, replacing former bassist J.J. Plasencio and joining just before the release of the group's self-titled album.
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Sixpence None the Richer's Leigh Nash paid tribute to her bandmate
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That record featured the band's breakthrough single Kiss Me, which climbed to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 2000.
The band, which was formed in 1992, also achieved chart success with their rendition of The La's track There She Goes, which became a Hot 100 hit in 1999.
Mr Cary continued performing with the group right up until his death, having been a member for nearly 30 years.
Beyond his work with Sixpence None the Richer, Mr Cary built an impressive career as a session musician, lending his bass skills to a range of artists.
According to his website, he performed with acts including Counting Crows, Jennifer Knapp and country star Lee Brice.
Nash shared a personal anecdote about their touring days together, recalling how Mr Cary came to her aid at 1am in Chile when she accidentally broke a sink in her hotel room.
"I feel incredibly lucky to have known him and to have learned the touring ropes from someone so extraordinary," she wrote. "I was looking forward to being his friend for a long time."