French singer and actress Regine has died aged 92.
The icon, who claimed she coined the term "discotheque" and ran a global nightclub empire, died this morning at her home in Paris, her granddaughter has said.
Announcing the news in a statement, comic Pierre Palmade said on behalf of her family: "The queen of the night has left.
"Closing time following a long and great career.”
Among those to pay tribute to Regine included Boy George, who shared a photo of them both together as she hugged him.
He wrote: "R.I.P to the legendary French Diva Regine! x"
His followers took to Twitter to share their condolences, with one writing: "I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend, George."
While another commented: "I'm sorry you've lost a friend. My prayers are with her family and her friends."
A third wrote: "Sorry for you, darling, you just lost a real friend : such an original, authentic artist whose naturalness, frankness will be missed…
"RIP Régine in the Paradise of the Good God, where you have largely earned your place."
Palmade recalled how Regine - whose birthname was Regine Zylberberg - "had the stars of the whole world dancing in her nightclubs".
He added that her name "became synonymous with the crazy nights that lasted until the small hours".
Regine's claim that she invented the disco originated from her opening her first nightclub in Paris in the 1950s.
She later turned it into a multimillion dollar empire, which comprised of 22 nightclubs at the heart of its success in locations such as Rio de Janeiro and New York.
