The latest edition of "Last Word", BBC Radio 4's weekly obituary program, telling the life stories of those who have died recently, focuses on former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord. The show, which features contributions from Ritchie Blackmore (BLACKMORE'S NIGHT, DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW), Rick Wakeman (YES), Classic Rock magazine editor Geoff Barton and Jon himself (on how he'd like to be remembered), can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

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.