Deep Purple founder Jon Lord dies at 71

Jon Lord, the founder and former keyboard player of the once famous rock band, Deep Purple, has passed away at the age of 71.

Since last August, Lord had been under treatment for pancreatic cancer. According to his publicist, he died on Monday surrounded by family members at the London Clinic.

Not only was Lord the founder of Deep Purple, but he also co-wrote a number of famous songs of the band, including the legendary "Smoke on the Water". Jon Lord performed not merely with Deep Purple. Throughout his career, he played with many musicians as well as numerous bands.

In 1968, Lord founded Deep Purple and with the hit numbers the band gave over the years, it soon became one of the most happening rock bands of its time.

Like most other bands, Deep Purple split in 1976, but its individual members could not create the magic like the band did as a single unit.

Soon all the band members deemed it prudent to unite again in 1984 for good and after their reformation they were able to give six studio albums. Each album earned them a lot of revenue and it was reported that sales of those albums were recorded at an excess of about 150 million units.

As sales of their albums boosted, Deep Purple rose to new heights of fame. The band toured all around the globe and had jam-packed concerts everywhere.

Jon Lord was born on June 9, 1941, in Leicester. In his early childhood, he was fond of playing piano and was an ardent follower of classical music played in his school. Soon he started taking classical music lessons.

Later, at the age of 19, Lord received scholarship of a drama school, where he played jazz and rhythm.

The news of Lord’s death sent a wave of sadness through his fans, who have since posted thousands of messages on his website.