Uriah Heep singer Ken Hensley dead at 75: Composer and poet behind iconic British rock band dies 'suddenly' while in midst of creating new solo album

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Ken Hensley, best known for his work with 1970s rock band Uriah Heep, has died at the age of 75, his family have announced.

The English singer-songwriter passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening, according to his brother Trevor Hensley.

He was said to be creating a new solo album at the time of his death. 

In a statement on Facebook, his brother Trevor said: 'I am writing this with a heavy heart to let you know that my brother Ken Hensley passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening.

'His beautiful wife Monica was at his side and comforted Ken in his last few minutes with us.

Ken Hensley, best known for his work with 1970s rock band Uriah Heep, has died at the age of 75, his family have announced

Ken Hensley performs live on stage with the band playing a Gibson Flying V guitar circa 1975

Uriah Heep posed together in London in 1975. The band members pictured here are, from left to right, Ken Hensley, Mick Box (front), David Byron, Lee Kerslake and John Wetton

Hensley played with Uriah Heep throughout the 1970s, before leaving in 1980. Here he is pictured left on a vermilion-lacquered bridge in a Japanese hotel garden, Tokyo, March 1973. Pictured right: Performing on stage at the Roundhouse, London

'We are all devastated by this tragic and incredibly unexpected loss and ask that you please give us some space and time to come to terms with it.

'Ken will be cremated in a private ceremony in Spain so please don’t ask for information about a funeral.

'Ken has gone but he will never be forgotten and will always be in our hearts.

In the tribute post to his brother Trevor Hensley added: 'Stay safe out there.'

The English singer-songwriter passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening, according to his brother Trevor Hensley

Hensley was born in Plumstead, south-east London, in August 1945, before moving with his family to Hertfordshire. 

He self-taught guitar at the age of 12, before playing his first gig, aged 15, at The Mentmore Pen Factory, in Stevenage.

Hensley formed a band called The Gods in 1965, aged 20, with the guitarist Mick Taylor. 

Hensley wrote most of the material, sang and played the Hammond organ - an instrument often associated with jazz and progressive rock.

In early 1968 they signed with Columbia Records and recorded two albums and several singles. 

But they later split, with Hensley later joining Toe Fat - with whom he later recorded an album.  

Hensley joined the band Spice, with bass guitarist Paul Newton, previously from The Gods, as a keyboard player in 1969.

The band, which also featured guitarist Mick Box and vocalist David Byron, later changed their name to Uriah Heep.

Under the new name, and the classic line-up, including Hensley, Box, Byron, drummer Lee Kerslake and bassist Gary Thain, the band saw huge success.  

They recorded 13 studio albums, and a live album, Uriah Heep Live, along with many compilations and singles.

The most successful was the 1975 album Return to Fantasy, which reached number 7 in the United Kingdom album charts.

It was the first of the two albums to feature John Wetton as the new bass player - replacing Thain.

Hensley, who through Uriah Heep found a place to develop and showcase his songwriting and lyrical abilities as well as his keyboard and guitar,  also recorded his first two solo albums during that time. 

These were Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf (1973) and Eager To Please (1975). 

Hensley left the band in 1980, unhappy with the music direction they had chosen, and he later moved to America.

After 1985, Hensley lived in semi-retirement in St Louis, Missouri.

But he continued to make music and even reformed with some of the old members of Uriah Heep, including original bass player Newton, during a Uriah Heep Annual Convention in London, May 2000. 

Uriah Heep in 1973: Featuring (left to right) Ken Hensley, Lee Kerslake, Mick Box, Gary Thain and David Byron

Ken Hensley pictured during an interview at his home studio in UK in 1977, three years before he left Uriah Heep and later moved to America

Hensley was born in Plumstead, south-east London, in August 1945, before moving with his family to Hertfordshire

Hensley, who through Uriah Heep found a place to develop and showcase his songwriting and lyrical abilities as well as his keyboard and guitar, also recorded his first two solo albums during that time

In 2016, Ken Ken Hensley performed at a in concert at the 1865 club, Southampton, Britain. He was said to be writing new music at the time of his death 

After he left Uriah Heep, Hensley continued to make music and even reformed with some of the old members of the band including original bass player Newton, during a Uriah Heep Annual Convention in London, May 2000. Pictured: Hensley performing in 2010

In September 2008, Hensley went on stage again with former Heep bandmates including Kerslake and Newton at a fans meeting. Here he is pictured at a concert in Russia in 2015

In September 2008, Hensley went on stage again with former Heep bandmates including Kerslake and Newton at a fans meeting.

He continued to write music and was reportedly living near Alicante in Spain in recent years, where he wrote h a collection of songs under the title of Love & Other Mysteries.

Following news of his death, fans and those who knew him flocked to Twitter to express their condolences.

One fan wrote: 'Terrible news. A truly great musician and lyricist. RIP.'

Another wrote: 'Another great one has gone. Uriah Heep, one of the heaviest rock bands in the world. "The sound comes at you like a Panzer doing 80". RIP Ken.   

One Twitter user described him as a 'keyboard pioneer in all senses of the word'. 

Another David Maida, a booking and PR agent, said he had met Hensley while working for St Louis Music.

Sharing the news on Twitter, he said: 'Wow! Big fan of Ken Hensley and Uriah Heep. I got to know Ken when he worked for St Louis Music. Rest In Peace.'