Sheena, vocalist of veteran Japanese rock band Sheena & the Rokkets, died Saturday of cervical cancer at a Tokyo hospital, the band's record label said. She was 61.
Sheena, whose real name was Etsuko Ayukawa, formed the band with her husband Makoto Ayukawa, the guitarist, and two other members in 1978. The band produced such smash hits as "You May Dream" (1979) and "Pinup Baby Blues" (1981).
Born in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Sheena was known for her husky and powerful voice.
In 1982, she released a solo album titled "Beautiful."
