Hilton Valentine, guitarist for The Animals, dead at 77

Hilton Valentine, guitarist and founding member of The Animals, has died. He was 77.

The English musician‘s death was announced by the Abkco Music & Records company on Friday.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to @HiltonValentine‘s family and friends on his passing this morning, at the age of 77. A founding member and original guitarist of The Animals, Valentine was a pioneering guitar player influencing the sound of rock and roll for decades to come,” the statement on Twitter reads.

The announcement showed a photo of the artist kneeling in front of a NewcastleGateshead Local Heroes plaque in the United Kingdom.

Our deepest sympathies go out to @HiltonValentine's family and friends on his passing this morning, at the age of 77.

A founding member and original guitarist of The Animals, Valentine was a pioneering guitar player influencing the sound of rock and roll for decades to come. pic.twitter.com/gSUyVN0WWS

— ABKCO Music & Records (@ABKCO) January 29, 2021

A cause of death has not been provided.

Valentine was born in Northbumberland, England in 1943. He became a member of The Animals in 1962 along with frontman Eric Burdon.

The rhythm blues and rock band is known for the hits “The House of the Rising Sun,” a Billboard chart-topper, and “We Gotta Get Out of This Place.” Valentine was one of its founding members, but bandmates did rotate over the years.