Dick Halligan, one of the founders of the Grammy-winning jazz-rock band Blood, Sweat & Tears, has passed away.
Halligan's death was confirmed by her daughter Shana Halligan.
In a statement reported by PEOPLE, Shana confirmed that her father, Dick Halligan, died due to natural causes last January 18 in Rome, Italy.
The rise of Halligan
Growing up in Glen Falls, New York, Halligan was influenced by the music big bandleaders Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller, and Tommy Dorsey, including the sounds of other renowned jazz musicians.
After receiving his master's degree in theory and composition from the Manhattan School of Music, Halligan continued to develop his style in New York until his buddy Fred Lipsius, the founding saxophone for Blood, Sweat & Tears, approached him about joining the band.
Initially, Halligan turned Lispius's offer down but subsequently changed his mind when they indicated they were heading to California - a destination Halligan had always wanted to visit.
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Blood, Sweat & Tears
Originally formed in 1967, Blood, Sweat & Tears consisted of Halligan, Al Kooper, Lipsius, Randy Brecker, Jerry Weiss, Steve Katz, Jim Fielder, and Bobby Colomby, who were all original founding members.
When the Grammy Awards were held in 1970, the jazz-rock trio took home the award for Album of the Year for their self-titled album, "Blood, Sweat & Tears", which went on to go quadruple platinum.
The Beatles' "Abbey Road" was nominated in the same category but significantly outperformed this album.
On the "biggest night in music" that year, Halligan also took home a second Grammy, this time for "Variations on a Theme by Eric Satie," for which he was nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance.
According to their website, the band was the first to tour outside of the former Iron Curtain, and they performed at the renowned Woodstock Festival in August 1969, when they were at the height of their popularity.
Pursuing other passions
Syracuse also reports that Halligan played piano, organ, trombone, flute, and accordion on Blood, Sweat & Tears' first four albums.
Halligan pursued a career as a composer and performer with other jazz and classical ensembles after leaving the band in 1971.
"Go Tell the Spartans" and "The Owl and the Pussycat" were two films that he scored in the 1970s that drew on his love of composition.
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