BOSTON -- The former lead singer of the boy band LFO died Wednesday at a Massachusetts hospital after a battle with leukemia.

Rich Cronin, 35, was the writer of the band's 1999 hit "Summer Girls." The song hit No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart.

Cronin's manager Melissa Holland confirmed Cronin's death on the singer's Facebook page.

"On behalf of the Cronin family and all at the Hope Foundation and Orange Freeze, thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts. Continue to post them as a tribute to a great man, a better artist and the best friend I could ever have," Holland posted.

Cronin was diagnosed with leukemia in 2005, and the disease returned in 2007 and 2008.

After his diagnosis, he established the Rich Cronin Hope Foundation for Leukemia, which encourages people to register with the National Marrow Donor Program.

Cronin, a Boston native, co-founded LFO with Brad Fischetti and Brian Gillis in 1995.