Jack Bruce, who is best known as the bassist, singer, co-founder and chief songwriter of the ’60s psychedelic blues-rock trio, Cream, died Saturday at his home in Suffolk, England.

He was 71 years old.

In Cream, the group he formed in July 1966 with Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Backer, Bruce wrote the hits “Sunshine of Your Love,” “White Room” and “I Feel Free.”

Cream recorded four albums — Fresh Cream (1966), Disraeli Gears (1967), Wheels of Fire (1968) and Goodbye (1969) — and broke up in November 1968.

The cause of Bruce’s death has not yet been revealed.

Bruce suffered from liver disease, according to an obit posted on The Guardian‘s website:

Bruce’s life had been marked by health and financial troubles. In the late 1970s he struggled with drug addiction, and worked as a session musician to make money. In 2003 he was diagnosed with liver cancer, and that September he underwent a transplant. His body initially rejected the new liver, and Bruce almost died, but he recovered well enough to return to performance in 2004.

A statement from his family said: “It is with great sadness that we, Jack’s family, announce the passing of our beloved Jack: husband, father and granddad and all-round legend. The world of music will be a poorer place without him, but he lives on in his music and forever in our hearts.”

Read The Guardian obit here.

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