Electronic music pioneer Simeon Coxe has died at the age of 82.
The Silver Apples musician passed away in Fairhope, Alabama on Tuesday, AL.com has reported.
The star is survived by his long term companion and creative collaborator Lydia Winn LeVert, brother, David S. Coxe (Foster) and his nephew, Aaron Coxe.
In the late 1960s, Coxe was a member of the Overland Stage Electric Band when he decided to incorporate the sound of a vintage oscillator into the music.
He later formed a new duo called Silver Apples with drummer Danny Taylor, and their debut self-titled album was released in 1968.
Electronic music pioneer Simeon Coxe has died at the age of 82 (Image: Redferns)
The electronic rig of his own creation was dubbed the Simeon, and it featured 16 oscillators, foot pedals, telegraph switches, wah-wah pedals, Echoplexes and more.
Jimi Hendrix was a fan of Silver Apples, and Coxe jammed with Hendrix on The Star Spangled Banner prior to Hendrix’s iconic Woodstock performance.
Simeon recalled his collaboration with Hendrix in an interview with Clash in 2010.
He explained: “Yeah the tapes would sometimes roll when we were playing together and some of that has survived.
The Silver Apples musician passed away in Alabama on Tuesday (Image: Redferns)
“We found a two-track dub of Hendrix and me working on the Star Spangled Banner.
“Danny had taken it home to try and figure out a way to put a drum part to it because the way Jimi and I played it was almost non-rhythmical.”
Fans have have to their keyboards to pay tribute to Simeon on social media.
One fan penned: “Sad to hear of the passing of Simeon Coxe of Silver Apples – electronic music of the late ’60s that blew my mind on 1st listen.
Simeon is survived by his long term companion and creative collaborator Lydia Winn LeVert (Image: Redferns via Getty Images)
“I was lucky enough to see him live and their madcap version of Mustang Sally was a reliable staple of my DJ sets back in the day.”
Another added: “The Silver Apples were very important and influential for me through my 20’s.
“I was lucky to meet Simeon in 2008 and from our interaction I was pleased to see that he was incredibly gentle and attentive.
“Thank You Simeon Coxe and Dan Taylor for the wave of inspiration.”
Jimi Hendrix was a fan of Silver Apples, and Coxe jammed with Hendrix on The Star Spangled Banner (Image: Michael Ochs Archives)
A third wrote: “Impossibly hard to fathom that we have lost both of these pioneers this year. Rest In Oscillating Power Simeon Coxe. Silver Apples changed me, live forever. F**k this year.”
While a fourth posted: “RIP Simeon Coxe. Hugely ahead of their time yes, but Silver Apples remained such a force live, even as he was pushing 80. Always great value wherever they popped up. Sad to see them go (again, for good this time).”
Silver Apples broke up after a lawsuit from Pan Am Airlines over their 1969 album Contact.
The band were pictured in a Pan Am cockpit on the front cover, while on the back, they were seen near a wrecked plane.
Simeon recalled his collaboration with Hendrix in an interview with Clash in 2010 (Image: Michael Ochs Archives)
The Pan Am lawsuit caused the album to be pulled from stores, the label Kapp Records folding, and the break-up of Silver Apples.
Simeon began a career as a news reporter and producer for WKRG TV in Mobile, Alabama after the group broke up.
He then revived the band in 1996 with a new line-up including Xian Hawkins and produced two albums.
Simeon went on to reunite with his original bandmate Danny for live shows and a new album called The Garden in 1998.
The star also suffered extensive injuries, including a broken neck, in a car crash that year.
The musician lost his Silver Apples co-founder Danny in 2005, but he continued to sample his drumming in the band’s live performances.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
