Celine Dion's husband and ex-manager, dies at the age of 73

(The Canadian Press) Rene Angelil, the husband and manager of international superstar Celine Dion, has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 73.

Rene Angelil passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer. https://t.co/JOeLaOfbSB

— Celine Dion (@celinedion) January 14, 2016

Angelil is survived by his three children with Dion – Rene-Charles, 14, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy. He also had two adult children from previous relationships.
Angelil was born in Montreal in 1942. He was a pop singer in the 1960s, and a member of a pop rock group named “The Baronets”.

Prior to managing Dion’s career, he managed Quebec entertainers Rene Simard and Ginette Reno. In 1981, Angelil mortgaged his home to fund Dion’s first album, ‘La voix du bon Dieu.’

Vito Luprano signed Dion to what was then known as CBS Records in 1986.

Luprano says when he met Angelil he thought they were like “old souls.”

And he says from his first handshake with Angelil that they decided they were going to be partners in the venture of “taking Celine to the top.”

Luprano was responsible for organizing and overseeing the production team that worked on more than 20 albums with the pop superstar.

In 1994, Angelil married Dion in an extravagant wedding that was broadcast live on television.

He suffered a heart attack in 1992 at the age of 51, and was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998. He underwent a number of surgeries, including one in 2013 that involved removing parts of his tongue.

Angelil was also an avid poker player, and qualified for the 2005 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions.