Deep Purple keyboard player Jon Lord dies aged 71

Jon Lord, keyboard player and co-founder of Deep Purple, passed away on July 16 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71. Lord co-wrote many of the group’s legendary songs including Smoke On The Water and played with many bands and musicians throughout his career. Lord is also well-known for his Orchestral work Concerto for Group & Orchestra that was first performed at the Royal Albert Hall with Deep Purple and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1969 and 1999.
Deep Purple sold 150 million albums. Lord retired from the band in 2002 and his solo work after this period was universally acclaimed.

Tributes have poured in from the music industry. Tom Morello, former of Rage Against the Machine wrote on Twitter: “RIP the great Jon Lord, Deep Purple’s cornerstone/keyboardist. So many great great songs and that incredible SOUND of his! Thankyou.”

Rick Wakeman of Yes said: “We were going to write and record an album before he became ill.”

“His contribution to music and to classic rock was immeasurable and I will miss him terribly.”

Source: Music Week