India, June 29 -- Walter Scott Jr. passed away on Thursday, June 26 at the age of 81 following a fight with cancer.

The R&B icon gained notoriety as a founding member of the vocal group The Whispers, who released classics including Rock Steady in 1987 and And the Beat Goes On in 1979.

He passed away six months after receiving a cancer diagnosis, according to several media publications, including the Los Angeles Sentinel and Billboard.

At the time of his death, Scott was in Northridge, California, with his family at his side.

Scott was one of the core founding members of the legendary vocal group The Whispers, who solidified their position in R&B history, with 15 of their songs reaching the Top 10 of Billboard's R&B chart throughout th...