Legendary singer Celine Dion' husband dead at 73

René Angélil, spouse of Céline Dion, has passed on, his rep affirmed solely to PEOPLE on Thursday.

"Rene Angelil, 73, passed away early today at his home in Las Vegas after a long and gallant fight against tumor," the rep said in an announcement. "The family asks for that their protection be regarded right now."

Angélil, who guided Dion's profession as her supervisor and tutor, is made due by the couple's three youngsters – René-Charles, 14, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy – and additionally Anne-Marie, Patrick and Jean-Pierre, his grown-up kids from past relational unions.

"Mr. Angelil, 73, kicked the bucket of throat disease at his home in Henderson while under the consideration of a doctor," the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner said in an announcement to PEOPLE.

The coroner's office included that Angélil's passing was because of characteristic reasons and no further examination concerning his demise was normal.

Conceived in Montreal, Angélil started his vocation as a major aspect of the Canadian pop shake assemble The Baronets in the 1960s. While the gathering had a humble number of hits, they in the long run separated and Angélil discovered accomplishment as a music director.

In 1980, he found Dion, then 12, after she presented a demo tape of a tune she had composed with her mom. He marked her in no time a short time later, selling his home to pay for her presentation album La Voix Du Bon Dieu.

Angélil was hitched twice before he marry his protégée – first to Denyse Duquette from 1966-1972, then to artist Anne Renée from 1974-1980. The music supervisor got married with Dion in 1994.

Angélil had battled three bouts of tumor, driving Dion to put her vocation on holdmultiple times to watch over her husband'songoing wellbeing issues. Angélil's cancer returned in 2014, after the removal of a tumor in December 2013, after previously being diagnosed with throat disease in 1999.

"We have asked [doctors] ordinarily, to what extent does he have, three weeks, three months? René needs to know," Dion said in a candid interview with USA TODAY in August. "However, they say they don't have the foggiest idea."

"I am terrified of losing him, since it's awful," she told PEOPLE exclusively in March. "However, I need to demonstrat to myself, my spouse and my children that I'm solid and we're alright."

The "My Heart Will Go On" artist added that she guaranteed to keep Angélil's withering wish.

"I'll say, 'You're terrified? I get it. Converse with me about it' … And René says to me, 'I need to pass on in your arms.' Okay, fine, I'll arrive, you'll pass on in my arms."

Furthermore, the artist said she would keep a fearless face until the end.

"You can have your shaking knees toward the end, however when somebody you adore falls and needs assistance, it's not time to cry," she said. "Subsequent