By Mirembe Martina

Alvin Lee, founder of Ten Years After band has died aged 68.

Mr. Lee was a British rock guitarist. His death was announced on his official website stating that he died yesterday, Wednesday 6th March from complications which rose after a routine surgical procedure. According to Lee’s manager, Ron Rainey died in Spain.

A statement signed by his daughter ad wife said, “We have lost a wonderful, much-loved father and companion. The world has lost a truly great and gifted musician.”

Lee was born in England and founded the band Ten Years After in 1967. The group came to the limelight in the U.S. during Lee’s performance of the song “I’m Going Home” at Woodstock in 1969. Ten Years After released ten albums together featuring the group’s mix of blues, swing jazz and rock and toured the U.S. 28 times in seven years.

He ventured into a solo career in 1975 leaving the band and recorded songs with the likes of George Harrison, Steve Winwood and Mick Fleetwood. In total, he released more than 20 albums over a 45-year career. His most recent, “Still On the Road to Freedom,” was released in August 2012 and incorporated a range of styles from rock to blues to jazz to funk.

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

Former Ten Years After bandmate Leo Lyons called Lee “the closet thing” he had to a brother, recalling “so many great experiences” shared together. “He was an inspiration for a generation of guitar players,” Lyons said in an email expressing shock and sadness over Lee’s death.

Lee is survived by his daughter Jasmin, wife Evi and former companion Suzanne.