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Blues musician John Hammond has died aged 83, a fellow star has confirmed. Toronto Blues musician Paul Smith, who was Hammond's longtime friend and collaborator, made the tragic announcement in a Facebook post on March 1.

He emotionally wrote: "The blues world has lost a giant. I've lost my best friend. My heart goes out to Marla and the family. Rest easy, John. I've just been going through the photos we've shared over the years - from the Horseshoe Tavern to Albert's Hall in Toronto, from London to Montreal, to Edmonton to Ottawa - and each picture tells a story of great music, great people, and unforgettable nights. He was such an inspiration to me, I'll miss him terribly." The star added that Hammond's wife, Marla, notified him of the news. His cause of death has not been confirmed.

Smith went on to share several photos of himself with Hammond throughout the years as he reflected fondly on happier times.

George Thorogood, the leader of the Destroyers, also paid tribute to Hammond's legacy. He said: "For more than 50 years, John Hammond Jr. was an icon, a professional role model and, most importantly, a friend.

"While we mourn his passing, we celebrate what the man and his music meant to us, and to so many."

Hammond released over 30 albums throughout his career, and in 1985, he won a Grammy for his performance on the compilation record Blues Explosion, which was recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1982.

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Over the years, he also had countless Grammy nominations for his work, including his 2009 album, Rough & Tough, which garnered a nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album.

He also received Grammy nods for You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover (1993), Trouble No More (1994), Found True Love (1996), Long As I Have You (1998), and In Your Arms Again (1995).

He was also known as John Paul Hammond as he is the son of record producer John Henry Hammond who was the legendary A+R man for Columbia Records.