Jon Lord, the former keyboard player with rock band Deep Purple, has died aged 71. Lord, who co-wrote many of the group's legendary songs including Smoke On The Water, had been receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer since last August. He co-founded Deep Purple in 1968 and also played with bands including Whitesnake during his career. He died at the London Clinic on Monday, surrounded by family. "Jon passes from Darkness to Light," a statement said. A classically-trained pianist, Lord was influenced by blues and jazz but approached his Hammond organ with a rock attitude and helped Deep Purple become pioneers of progressive and heavy rock. The band established their sound and success at the start of the 1970s with albums including Deep Purple in Rock and Machine Head. The group split up in 1976 but reformed in 1984 and the line-up has undergone numerous changes over the years, with Lord a mainstay until he left 2002. In its classic years, the band also included guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, singer Ian Gillan, drummer Ian Paice and bassist Roger Glover. Born in Leicester on 9 June, 1941, Jon Lord began playing piano and taking classical music lessons from an 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.

R.I P Jon Lord 9 June 1941 – 16 July 2012