The singer songwriter, Kirsty MacColl has died in Mexico, in what is believed to have been a boating accident. The 41-year-old daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl shot to fame in 1981 with the song 'There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Elvis'. She was perhaps best known for her duet with Shane McGowan of The Pogues on the Christmas ballad 'Fairytale of New York'. The song about Irish emigration became an instant classic after its release in 1987 when it reached number two in the charts.
In 1984 MacColl married the music producer Steve Lillywhite. She went on to work as a backing singer for artists like the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, and Talking Heads. Her last album, 'Tropical Rainstorm' was released in March of this year. She is survived by her two sons.
