Cream bassist Jack Bruce dies at age 71

SUFFOLK, England, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Legendary bassist Jack Bruce, of the 1960s supergroup Cream, has died at the age of 71.

His death was announced on his official website.

"It is with great sadness that we, Jack's family, announce the passing of our beloved Jack: husband, father and granddad and all-round legend. The world of music will be a poorer place without him, but he lives on in his music and forever in our hearts."

Bruce was born in 1943 in Glasgow, Scotland, and attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music on a cello scholarship before leaving the country at age 16.

He played in a number of bands on his way to London, where he would eventually establish Cream with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker in 1966. Cream produced four albums, topping charts and selling millions of records, before breaking up in 1968 at the height of their popularity. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

While Bruce is considered one of the greatest bass players of all time, he also wrote and sang lead vocals for many Cream hits, including "White Room," "Sunshine of Your Love" and "I Feel Free."