Legendary British Musician Greg Lake Passes Away at 69
Greg Lake the iconic British musician, singer and songwriter passed away on December 7 2016 at the age of 69 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Lake’s legacy is marked by his groundbreaking work as a founding member of the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP).
*Early Life and Career*
Born Gregory Stuart Lake on November 10, 1947, in Poole, Dorset, England, he began playing guitar at 12 and wrote his first song, “Lucky Man.” Lake’s early bands included Unit Four and the Time Checks, before joining the Gods, which led to his recruitment by Robert Fripp to join King Crimson in 1969.
*King Crimson and ELP*
As a member of King Crimson, Lake played a pivotal role in shaping the band’s debut album, “In the Court of the Crimson King,” released in 1969. He later left the band to form ELP with Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer, achieving significant success in the 1970s with hits like “Lucky Man” and “From the Beginning.