Guitarist Ed King, who wrote several hit songs for the bands Strawberry Alarm Clock and Lynyrd Skynyrd, died at the age of 68 in his home, Nashville, Tennessee on August 22, 2018.
The cause of his death is still unknown. The musician was recently hospitalised for lung cancer. Back in 2011, King had undergone a heart transplant surgery.
A Facebook post on King's page read, "It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Ed King who died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on August 22nd, 2018. We thank his many friends and fans for their love and support of Ed during his life and career."
King was one of the founding members of the rock band called Strawberry Alarm Clock. The band released a hit song in 1967 called Incense and Peppermints, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
King later joined Lynyrd Skynyrd replacing Leon Wilkeson on bass for a brief time. After Leon Wilkeson returned, King became its guitarist. King and the other band members released three songs; Lynyrd Skynyrd (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd), Second Helping, and Nuthin' Fancy in the years 1974 – 1976.
King wrote or co-wrote the songs, Sweet Home Alabama, Poison Whiskey, Saturday Night Special, Whiskey Rock-a-Roller, and Workin' For MCA.
King's granddaughter Kristen King took to Twitter to share her grief.
My Grandfather, Ed King, passed away last night. He lived one hell of a life and he left behind a lot of people who cared for him including my father. It truly was a blessing to have had the chance to spend time with him a little over a year ago. #Edking pic.twitter.com/JTMfGGw0cd
— Kirsten King? (@kirstenkayyyy) August 23, 2018
My Grandfather, Ed King, passed away last night. He lived one hell of a life and he left behind a lot of people who cared for him including my father. It truly was a blessing to have had the chance to spend time with him a little over a year ago. #Edking pic.twitter.com/JTMfGGw0cd
— Kirsten King? (@kirstenkayyyy) August 23, 2018