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By Beth Stibal |

The music stops for guitarist Jeff Beck

Obit Jeff Beck
FILE – Guitarist Jeff Beck performs in concert at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 18, 2010 in New York. Beck, a guitar virtuoso who pushed the boundaries of blues, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll, influencing generations of shredders along the way and becoming known as the guitar player’s guitar player, died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, after “suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis,” his representatives said in a statement released Wednesday. He was 78. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File)

(UNDATED) — Legendary rock musician Jeff Beck of the Yardbirds has died at the age of 78. Beck tragically died this week after contracting bacterial meningitis, according to his family.

Beck was regarded as one of the most innovative guitarists of his generation melding rock with jazz in instrumental tunes without vocals.  Beck never reached the same commercial success as Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page but he was an eight-time Grammy winner. Some of his better-known songs include “Freeway Jam,” “Cause We Ended as Lovers” and “Beck’s Bolero.”

Johnny Depp joined him on tour recently in support of his album titled “18.”  He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, once with the Yardbirds and once as a solo artist. He also recorded two songs recently with Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath.