Timmy Matley, lead singer with five-piece vocal harmony group the Overtones, has died aged 36. A representative for the band said that they had no information on the circumstances surrounding his death.

Matley, who was born in Cork, was diagnosed with stage three malignant melanoma in September 2016. He did not appear with the group on that year’s Christmas tour, but returned to the stage in July 2017.

His bandmates have paid tribute on Twitter: “We know this news will be as heartbreaking for you all as it is for us. We appreciate your love and support at this difficult time. Mike, Darren, Mark and Lachie.”

This Morning host Phillip Schofield replied: “I’m so terribly sorry to hear this and sending lots of love to you all and particularly Timmy’s family and his many friends.” Sam Bailey, who won the X Factor in 2013, also paid tribute, as did Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt and the presenters of Loose Women.

Matley (centre) pictured with the Overtones in London, November 2015. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

Matley had been due to perform a skydive in aid of the Royal Marsden hospital in Chelsea, where he had received pioneering treatment, on 4 May. His fundraising campaign has raised in excess of £5,000.

On his JustGiving page, launched in January, Matley wrote: “My latest scans look really positive, with most of the cancer in regression, and I’ve got my fingers crossed that when I have my next full scan at Christmas, I will be diagnosed NED (no evidence of disease).”

The Overtones, comprised of Matley, Mike Crawshaw, Mark Franks, Darren Everest and Lachie Champman, are a platinum-selling doo-wop vocal harmony group. They claim to have been discovered by a Warner Bros A&R person while singing on their tea break when working as decorators in a shop near London’s Oxford Street, and signed to a five-album deal.

Their debut album, Good Ol’ Fashioned Love, reached No 16 in the UK albums chart on its initial release in November 2010, but peaked at No 4 after being reissued in March 2011. The record has sold more than 500,000 copies. The Overtones have released five albums, often incorporating covers of popular standards. Their last release was Good Ol’ Fashioned Christmas in November 2015, which reached No 24 on the UK album chart.

The group have previously toured with Cliff Richard and appeared on a number of ITV entertainment shows. In 2011, they were the house band on Dancing on Ice.