Renowned Scottish singer Doogie White (pictured below), who has worked with such bands as RAINBOW, CORNERSTONE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, MIDNIGHT BLUE, PRAYING MANTIS and TANK, has released the following statement regarding the passing of former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord:

"Dear Jon, thank you. Thank you for being the very best, the most honourable, the most inviting. The finest host (Ritchie [Blackmore] often told me that you were his greatest and favourite dinner guest). I remember you telling me off for buying a round of drinks in Luxembourg. You paid anyway. You were the greatest of storytellers.

"But really, Jon, thank you for not only the most dynamic music I ever heard, that changed my world and many others, but for the most beautiful musical moments I ever had, for three — yes! only three — but three of the most outstanding and joyous concerts I have ever had the pleasure to be part of. You gave me a shot and how you both with Tarquin mocked the H/H Tartan suit I had bought for the occasion.

"There are those who have known you much longer and worked with you much harder. But dear Jon, I will miss you. '..the Poet and the Pilgrim.'

"Much love to the Lord family."

Jon Lord died on Monday (July 16) at age 71 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Lord, who was known for his keyboard virtuosity and his reinvention of the Hammond B-3 organ sound, co-wrote such PURPLE classics as "Smoke On The Water" and "Child In Time", among others. Lord and drummer Ian Paice were the only original members to last through the band's initial run from 1968 to 1976. He was on board for their 1984 reunion and stayed on through to his 2002 retirement from the band, after which he's worked primarily in the classical field.

Over the course of his career, Lord also worked with the ARTWOODS, FLOWER POT MEN, PAICE, ASHTON AND LORD, WHITESNAKE and good friend and neighbor, George Harrison.