One of Singapore's most influential nightlife players from the 1980s and 1990s, Fabrice de Barsy, died unexpectedly on Saturday night in Yangon.

De Barsy was aged 51.

Life! understands that he died in his sleep on Saturday night of a heart attack, according to de Barsy's brother, Thibault de Barsy, 41.

The Belgian club operator was behind Saxophone Bar at Cuppage Terrace, Singapore's first outdoor casual French bistro-cum-jazz-and-blues bar, which opened in 1985. He successfully ran the bar for more than 10 years.

De Barsy also operated several other nightspots in the 1990s, including Fabrice's World Music Bar at Marriott Hotel, which opened in 1992; Ka, his second nightclub at Pan Pacific Hotel in 1995; and nightclub Rampage at Ming Arcade in 2000.

Long-time friend and veteran local jazz musician Jeremy Monteiro, told Life! that de Barsy, a bachelor, had been living in Yangon over the past year, scouting for a location to set up a Saxophone Bar there.

De Barsy left Singapore over a decade ago, working in Europe before returning to Asia to work in the food and beverage industry in places such as Bangkok and Bali.