Born in Leicester, Lord learned classical piano at an early age before being seduced by watching early rock 'n' roll star Jerry Lee Lewis and jazz organist Jimmy Smith.
He also worked as a session musician and is thought, by some, to have played piano on The Kinks' hit 'You Really Got Me'.
For me, his greatest work was with The Artwoods who recorded the legendary 'Art Gallery' album as well as several classic singles. Together with Art Wood on lead vocals, Derek Griffiths on lead guitar, Malcolm Pool on bass and Keef Hartley on drums, The Artwoods were one of the best British R&B bands of the sixties. We lost Art a few years ago (and it was my pleasure to work with Art & Ronnie Wood on the Mod Aid 20 single in 2005), and Keef was taken away earlier this year. Now Jon has gone and what a sad day this is - but what a musical legacy he has left behind.
In addition to The Artwoods, he co-founded Deep Purple in 1968 after meeting guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and co-wrote many of the group's best known songs including 'Smoke On The Water'.
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