ˌɔn wˈʌn dʒˈuːn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˈeɪt, ɹˈɪki mˈeɪ hæd ɐ fˈeɪɾəl hˈɑːɹt ɐtˈæk æt ðə ɹˈiːdʒənt hoʊtˈɛl, sˈɪdni, ˈæftɚ ɡˌɛɾɪŋ ɐ stˈændɪŋ oʊvˈeɪʃən ɔnðɪ ˈoʊpənɪŋ nˈaɪt əvə nˈuː kˈæbɚɹˌeɪ ʃˈoʊ.
On 1 June 1988, Ricky May had a fatal heart attack at the Regent Hotel, Sydney, after getting a standing ovation on the opening night of a new cabaret show.