Alex Chilton, the pop hitmaker, cult hero, and Memphis rock iconoclast, whose work spanned an eclectic gamut from the soul songs of the Box Tops to the multiple incarnations of his pop band Big Star, has died. The cause of death is believed to have been a heart attack.

Alex Chilton’s Big Star band mate Jody Stephens confirmed the news. “Alex passed away a couple of hours ago,” Stephens said. “I don’t have a lot of particulars, but they kind of suspect that it was a heart attack.”

According to The Commercial Appeal, Chilton had been complaining of about his health earlier today. He was taken by paramedics to the emergency room where he was pronounced dead. 

Alex Chilton was born William Alexander Chilton on  December 28, 1950. He was just 16 years old when the Box Tops, in which he sang and played guitar, had a No. 1 hit with “The Letter” in 1967. When that group broke up in 1970, Mr. Chilton formed Big Star with Mr. Stephens, a drummer, and the musicians Chris Bell and Andy Hummel. Their music, gentle and introspective songs like “The Ballad of El Goodo” and “September Gurls,” and exuberant anthems like “In the Street” , had a profound impact on generations of pop and indie acts that followed.

Alex Chilton is survived by his wife, Laura, and a son Timothy.

(photo from wikipedia)