Influential guitarist Alex Chilton, who shunned the spotlight so much despite his considerable accomplishments that you may not be able to place the name, has died.
The singer and guitarist was just 59.
His music career of more than four decades and included stints as a teen singer in the Box Tops, and then in alt-rock band Big Star, known for the hit "In the Street."
As a driving force behind Big Star, Alex Chilton inspired the likes of R.E.M., Wilco, Jeff Buckley and the Replacements, who even went so far as to pen "Alex Chilton."
"Children by the millions sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round/ They sing, 'I'm in love, what's that song?/ I'm in love with that song," the 1987 song goes.
R.I.P. Alex Chilton (1950-2010).
Not big on publicity, Chilton was happy to never reach celebrity status, despite all three Big Star albums ranking among Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest of All Time.
Sadly, Chilton passed away in New Orleans on Wednesday after experiencing what appeared to be heart problems. No official cause of his death has been released.
May he rest in peace.
