Ripley passed away on Thursday (21May15) in the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, after a five-year battle with cancer.

She is best known for her debut single Terry, which was released in 1964 when she was 16. The single reached number four on the U.K. singles chart and remained there for 15 weeks after its content caused uproar. The tune, which featured Led Zeppelin rocker Jimmy Page as a musician, was condemned by politicians and banned from some BBC and ITV shows for appearing to encourage bikers to ride their motorcycles recklessly.

Ripley failed to follow-up her success and her second single Golden Lights flopped. She retired after six tracks at the age of 18. She attempted a comeback a few years later but found little success.

She was married to actor/model Graham Rogers and they had two children. She is the aunt to British actress Fay Ripley.