Farrell, who lived in Amsterdam, was more a dancer and showman than singer when he fronted Boney M in the 1970s and 80s. The group, based in Germany, broke into the charts with "Daddy Cool" and "Sunny" in 1976. Two years later their version of "By the Rivers of Babylon" sold nearly two million records in Britain alone, keeping it No. 1 for five weeks. The original Boney M disbanded in 1986.