He became a fixture on British television in the 1970s and that decade's comic giants, Morecambe and Wise, regularly derided his musical achievements along with those of fellow crooner Des O'Connor.
Bygraves was awarded an OBE in 1982 and the following year he took over from Bob Monkhouse as presenter of the popular television quiz show Family Fortunes, to mixed reviews.
Bygraves married Blossom Murray in 1942 and the couple had three children, Christine, Maxine and Anthony.
It later emerged that Bygraves had fathered three illegitimate children - two sons and a daughter - to the surprise of the entertainment world and many of his fans.
Bygraves was widowed in May last year.
Johnny Mans, his agent, said: "We have lost one of the best entertainers that Britain has ever produced.
"He was a friend to everyone... there were no airs and graces."
Anthony Bygraves, 65, who lives in Bournemouth, Dorset, said: "Sadly, Dad died last night as a result of the Alzheimer's.
"He was six weeks off celebrating his 90th birthday which would have fallen on October 16."
Anthony, who recently visited Max on the Gold Coast in Australia, had organised a campaign for the public to send him their stories on their affectionate memories of his career.
The appeal came after more than 2,000 people sent well-wishing postcards and messages of support to Bygraves in March when it was revealed he was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's.
"I had wanted to compile it with the help of the public. Dad still had a loyal fan base all around the world," said Anthony.
"I had wanted people to contribute a written memory of Max to appear in 'I Wanna tell you a Story'.
"Their own personal recollection of my father, a meeting, of a show, a time, a place - anything that was interesting or unusual."
Bygraves emigrated from his home in Bournemouth to Australia in 2005.
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