‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’ singer Maria Mendiola dead at 69

Maria Mendiola, one half of the Spanish duo Baccara that sang the 1977 disco anthem “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie,” died Saturday. She was 69.

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The singer’s death was confirmed by current bandmate Cristina Sevilla on Baccara’s official Instagram page. The singer died in Madrid, Spain, and was surrounded by family members.

“How difficult it is for me to publish this,” Sevilla wrote. “My dear Maria, wonderful artist, but for me above all … My friend, has left us today. Words cannot come out … I can only thank so much love how I have received from her part and tell her what so many times I had the opportunity to say to her in life … I love you.”

“She will always be remembered for her love, dedication and respect for the world of music and interpretation,” Mendiola’s family wrote in a statement. “We will always remember her smile.”

Mendiola formed Baccara with Mayte Mateos in 1977, when both were flamenco dancers on the island of Fuerteventura, according to the BBC.

RCA Records in the United Kingdom signed the duo and gave them “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie” as their first single, the network reported.

The song spent 16 weeks on the charts during the summer and fall of 1977, peaking at No. 1 on Oct. 27, 1977. The song topped the charts in 10 European countries, including the United Kingdom, the BBC reported.

The song would sell 16 million copies, even though it never charted in the U.S.

The duo’s follow-up single, “Sorry I’m a Lady,” was another top-10 hit in 1978, according to the BBC.

The band released two more albums but split by the mid-1980s, continuing to perform separately.

The song regained its popularity when it was adopted as Scotland’s unofficial anthem at the Euro 2020 soccer tournament, the BBC reported.

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