Bailey Rae devastated by husband's death

Singer Corinne Bailey Rae is said to be devastated after her husband was found dead from a suspected drugs overdose.

Police discovered the body of Scottish-born Jason Rae, 31, a saxophonist with funk band the Haggis Horns, at a flat in the Hyde Park area of Leeds on Saturday.

Bailey Rae is said to be devastated by her husband’s death and will not be making any public statements immediately.

Her record label said in a statement: “EMI Records would like to offer its sincere condolences to Corinne Bailey Rae and the Rae family at this tragic time. We ask that the media respects Corinne’s privacy and that of her entire family.”

Officers arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs before later releasing him on bail pending further inquiries.

West Yorkshire Police said detectives were waiting for toxicology test results after a post mortem examination on Mr Rae’s body proved inconclusive.

An inquest is expected to be opened this week.

There was no answer last night at the Leeds flat shared by the singer and her husband and it appeared nobody was home.

The Haggis Horns – who have played as a backing band for Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson and Bailey Rae herself – recently released a well-received debut album called Hot Damn!

A concert the group was due to play at the trendy HiFi Club in Leeds last night was cancelled.

Bailey Rae, 29, met her musician husband while working as a cloakroom attendant at a Leeds jazz club. They married in 2001.

In interviews she has spoken of how her marriage inspired her songwriting, saying: “I focus on the fact that it’s not all just warm and fluffy feelings and that it’s work.

“It’s great to argue with someone and know that there’s a real commitment underneath it all – it’s not about slamming doors and walking away, but about working things out.

“I do write a lot about love, I guess, from all these different angles, because it’s a complicated thing and I think it’s worth a couple of songs.”

She recently said of her relationship with her husband: “When I got married, I felt like I was older in my head.

“I knew Jason was the right one for a mixture of reasons. I really liked him, and I think that’s a good place to start from.

“I really liked hanging around with him. With Jason it was like I couldn’t see enough of him.”

The Leeds-born singer has achieved critical acclaim, platinum sales, numerous British awards and three Grammy nominations in the space of two years.

She shot to fame in 2006 with the release of her self-titled debut album.

The record went to number one in the UK charts and sold more than a million copies in the US, as well as producing the hit single 'Put Your Records On'.

In an interview in May 2006, Bailey Rae said she had never tried drugs.

She told the Observer: “I’m not interested in manufacturing a high in an attempt to have a good time. It’s not really a good time, is it?”

Fans posted messages of support on Bailey Rae’s website last night.

Paul K, from London, wrote: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Corinne and family at this sad time. Such a tragic waste.”

An internet user from Leeds called “maryrose” wrote on the singer’s website: “I have known Jason for around 10 years and am devastated to have to say the fact is Jason is no longer with us. A nicer, (more) considerate (and) thoughtful person never existed.

“Those that deal drugs should be dealt with in a manner they deserve. If it were not for them, Jason would still be here.”