Milan B Williams, one of the original members of soul group the Commodores, has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 58.
Williams played keyboards for the Motown band and wrote their first single, an instrumental called 'Machine Gun'.
The Commodores were formed in 1967 while all the members were at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, USA.
They signed to Motown records after touring with the Jackson Five in 1972.
The group, whose best-known member was singer Lionel Richie, had a series of hits during the 1970s and 1980s, including 'Brick House', 'Easy' and 'Three Times a Lady'.
Richie left the group in 1983 and they had difficulty recovering from the loss. Williams also quit in 1989.
Band member Walter Orange said: "He was once, twice, three times a brother and we love him. He gave all that he could give to the Commodores. He'll always be remembered."
Williams is survived by his wife and two sons from previous marriages.
