Alex Chilton, the singer and guitarist known for his work with the Box Tops and Big Star, has died in hospital in New Orleans at the age of 59.

Chilton had been due to perform with the band he founded in the 1970s at the South by Southwest music festival in Texas this weekend.

However, long-time friend of the star John Fry said he had been taken to hospital suffering from 'heart problems' and later died.

Fry, the owner of Memphis-based Ardent Studio, said his death had been "just a sudden and unexpected event".

He added: "Alex was an amazingly talented person, not just as a musician and vocalist and a songwriter, but he was intelligent and well read and interested in a wide number of music genres."

Chilton began his career as a teenager in the band the Box Tops and topped the charts in 1967 with The Letter.

His later work with Big Star received less mainstream success but resulted in him gaining iconic status among other musicians, with the band's third album Third/Sister Lovers now regarded as a classic piece of work.

The band split in 1974 but successfully reformed in the 1990s.

Chilton is survived by his wife Laura and son Timothy.
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