LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Nottingham-born musician rose to fame after appearing at the Woodstock festival in 1969. His flagship band, Ten Years After had eight Top 40 albums in the U.K. Their biggest hit in 1971 was "I'd Love to Change the World."

"We have lost a wonderful and much loved father and companion, the world has lost a truly great and gifted musician," said the statement from his wife and daughters.

Lee worked with The Beatles' George Harrison, Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood and Mick Fleetwood on his first solo album, "On the Road to Freedom," in 1973. His 14th record, "Still on the Road to Freedom, was released last August.

He was due to play a concert at Olympia Hall in Paris next month with blues guitarist Johnny Winter. In an interview with Guitar World he said he still picked up a guitar "pretty much every day."

"I've still got the original Woodstock 335, but sadly I don't use it these days as it has become too valuable," he said in 2012. The Woodstock Festival, held outside New York in August 1969, featured legendary performances from Jimi Hendrix and The Who.

Lee began playing guitar at 13 and formed the core of the band Ten Years After by 15.

The band won their first recording contract in 1967 and travelled to America a year later following success on underground radio stations. The band toured the U.S. 28 times over a seven-year period.

Lee left the band in 1975 to embark on a successful solo career. He released more than 20 albums over a 45-year career.

Lee's manager, Ron Rainey said he had developed a great friendship over the past 25 years with his client, who he recalled would "always end our conversations and his emails with 'Keep Rockin' Ron.'

"He was a great musician, writer, producer, performer, and a gentleman, truly one of a kind," Rainey said in an email.

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