Jon Lord, Founder of Deep Purple Dies at Age 71

 

Jon Lord, the former keyboard player with the rock band Deep Purple, has died aged 71.

He had been receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer since last August.

Lord, who co-wrote many of Deep Purple’s legendary songs, including “Smoke On The Water,” played with many bands and musicians throughout his career.

A statement issued by his publicist said he died at the London Clinic on Monday, surrounded by his family.

Lord founded Deep Purple in 1968, and the band went on to become one of the world’s most popular rock bands.

Deep Purple split in 1976, but after reforming in 1984 the band had six studio albums and performed concerts all over the world, with album sales in excess of 150 million units.

Born in Leicester on 9 June, 1941, Jon Lord began playing piano, taking classical music lessons from a very early age.

He received a scholarship to drama school in London at the age of 19, during which time he began playing jazz and rhythm and blues in pub gigs.

Lord retired from Deep Purple in 2002.

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