Mike Smith [ tickets ], lead singer of The Dave Clark Five [ tickets ], one of the leading acts of the early '60s "British Invasion," has died of pneumonia at age 64.

Smith, who was admitted to Stoke Mandeville Hospital north of London Wednesday (2/27), passed away "peacefully," with his wife Charlie at his side, according to his official website. He had been taken to the hospital's Intensive Care Unit to treat a chest infection, which was a complication from a spinal cord injury he suffered in 2003 that left him paralyzed below the ribcage, according his agent, Margo Lewis.

"These last five years were extremely difficult for Mike," said Lewis in a press statement. "I am incredibly saddened to lose him, his energy and his humor, but I am comforted by the fact that he had the chance to spend his final months and days at home with his loving wife, Charlie, whom he adored, instead of in the hospital."

Smith's death comes less than two weeks before the band was slated to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "He was extremely excited and honored to have been inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and I am glad that he will be remembered as a 'Hall of Famer,' because he was in so many ways," said Lewis.

The Dave Clark Five were among the leading figures of the post-Beatles wave of British acts that came to America to strike it big. Smith--who played keyboards and wrote many of the band's hits, as well as sang them--claimed a string of US chart successes with the group, including "Bits and Pieces" and "I Like it Like That," as well as "Glad All Over," which knocked The Beatles off the top spot on the British charts in 1964.

The group also set a record in 1966 with its 12th appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," a record at the time for British acts.

After the band broke up in 1970, Smith worked with Dave Clark--who was the drummer for the outfit that bore his name--on various projects in the '70s before concentrating on a career as a producer and songwriter of commercial jingles.

The singer returned to performing in the '90s, discovering a new generation of fans on the oldies circuit and finally touring with a band that bore his own name, Mike Smith's Rock Engine.