Jeff Beck passed away yesterday at the age of 78.
His spokeswoman said, “On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing. After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.”
One of his last recordings was on Ozzy Osbourne's latest album, Patient Number 9.
Born in Wallington, Surrey, England on June 24th, 1944, Jeff Beck rose to prominence in 1965 when he replaced Eric Clapton in The Yardbirds. He played their big hits, including “Heart Full of Soul,” “I’m a Man,” “Shapes of Things” and “Over Under Sideways Down” before he was fired in 1966.
He eventually went onto form The Jeff Beck Group with Ronnie Wood on bass, Rod Stewart on vocals, Nicky Hopkins playing piano and Aynsley Dunbar on drums -- who was later replaced by Micky Waller. They released two albums before breaking up in 1969.
Beck turned down an offer to replace Brian Jones in The Rolling Stones, and he put together another version of his band in 1970 and it lasted for two more .
Jeff Beck picked up seven Grammys for instrumental performances, and an eighth for his 2009 work on Herbie Hancock’s The Imagine Project. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Yardbirds back in 1992 and as a solo artist in 2009.
Beck is survived by his wife Sandra.
Jeff once commented on the many styles of music he recorded, saying, "No rap yet (laughs). I just go wherever fate leads me really, you know. I can't help but be drawn to these amazing talents that are out there. Violin solos that are just breathtakingly amazing, choirs with fabulous singers, just stuff that really moves me, which isn't the blues, you know. We're all moved by the blues, but it's a known thing. I'm constantly looking for ways of interpreting melody so that it justifies my existence."
Get more on Jeff Beck on iHeartRadio, keyword Jeff Beck.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]