CeCe Sammy-Lightfoot, a vocal coach who previously worked with One Direction, has said she “absolutely loved working with the whole band”.

She told Sky News: “The biggest thing I would like to say to everyone out there is that, you know, at such a young age, Liam and all of One Direction worked so hard, spent hour upon hour, day and night, working round the clock.”

“He has contributed so much into the music world. And the main thing with all of this sadness, I just want to say to everyone to remember what he has done in his contribution to music, because it’s very easy to get sort of distracted by where people might want to go, what happened personally in his life.”

The vocal coach grew emotional as she spoke about the importance of people remembering his musical legacy.

“But I think at this time it’s really important, especially because he has a family out there, to really think about… sorry, I’m getting all emotional, but for them to really remember what he contributed to music generally,” she said.

McFly, the boyband who rose to fame in the Noughties with hits like “All About You” and “Star Girl”, have said they are “shocked and extremely sad to wake up to the news of Liam Payne’s death”.

Bandmates Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd said in a statement: “Our thoughts and love are with his family and friends at such a difficult time.”

Find out all of the tributes shared in Payne’s memory, here.

The singer died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Argentina, officials said on Wednesday 16 October. Pablo Policicchio, the spokesperson for the Security Ministry of Buenos Aires municipality, said in a statement to the Associated Press that police were dispatched to the hotel in response to an emergency call about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.

Born in Wolverhampton, England, Payne was drawn to singers such as Usher and Justin Timberlake. He remembered his childhood as a happy one: his father, Geoff, worked as a fitter, while his mother, Karen, was a nursery nurse.

“It was great, though we didn’t have much,” he told The Telegraph in a 2017 interview. “Dad was in debt, but they did the best they could. It makes you dream a bit, you know?”

Greg Horan, the older brother of One Direction’s Niall, has shared a tribute to Payne.

Writing in a post on Instagram, Greg said he was “heartbroken” by the news, and that Payne was “only one of four lads I was happy enough to take my place in Niall’s life as a brother”.

“You will be forever missed Liam words can’t describe how much I want to grab my brother and mind him now while the world shows their memories of you and him and the boys,” he said, calling Payne a “top young boy to a man, a son, a brother”.

“My heart goes out to your family parents and sisters and your son Bear and your 1D brothers. 10th October we met and we started out that evening as five families into one big 1D family. Thank you for all the laughs bro watch down on all your family and mind them. Lots of love kiddo x x x 1D 4 LIFE.”

In the days before his death, Liam Payne’s girlfriend of two years, 25-year-old influencer Kate Cassidy, had joined him on his trip to Argentina. The pair had been documenting their trip together on social media.

Cassidy had been on the trip with Payne for two weeks before she decided to return home to her Florida home.

In a vlog posted on her TikTok account two days before Payne’s death, Cassidy said she was “so ready to leave” Buenos Aires after their five day trip had turned into a two week long holiday.

“Words can not express the emotions we are collectively feeling right now, and it seems like the rest of the world is in the same boat,” a statement from the official Backstreet Boys account on X/Twitter said.

“Our hearts go out to Liam’s family, friends, and Directioners around the world. Rest in peace brother.”

Simon Cowell has cancelled auditions set to take place in Blackpool for a new series of Britain’s Got Talent.

“Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, BGT has decided to postpone today’s auditions in Blackpool,” a statement from Applause Store, which organises tickets for fans who want to watch filming, said.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

“This is a really hard one to take in,” Scott Mills wrote on X/Twitter. “Never in a million years would I think we would have to see goodbye to you so soon Liam.We had so much fun back then, and I feel so incredibly sad.

“Sending my love and strength to his family, his friends, and especially his son.”