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The 71 year-old-keyboardist was a founding member of progressive rock group Emerson. Sergeant Erika Aklufi of Santa Monica police said Mr Emerson had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound

to the head. She said: “It's being investigated as a suicide.” His former band Emerson, Lake and Palmer confirmed the sad news on their official Facebook profile. They asked “that the

family's privacy and grief is respected”. His band posted earlier today: "We regret to announce that Keith Emerson died last night at his home in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, aged

71. We ask that the family’s privacy and grief be respected." Keith’s distraught bandmate Carl Palmer led the tributes, with him remembering his "good friend and

brother-in-music" in a touching statement. He said: "I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my good friend and brother-in-music, Keith Emerson. "Keith was a gentle

soul whose love for music and passion for his performance as a keyboard player will remain unmatched for many years to come. He was a pioneer and an innovator whose musical genius touched

all of us in the worlds of rock, classical and jazz. "I will always remember his warm smile, good sense of humor, compelling showmanship, and dedication to his musical craft. I am very

lucky to have known him and to have made the music we did, together." Emerson, Lake and Palmer formed in early 1970, but hadn't performed together since 2010, when they staged a

40th anniversary at the High Voltage Festival in London. In their first year, the group signed with Atlantic Records and released Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1970) and Tarkus (1971), both of

which reached the UK top five.