Keith Emerson's death investigated as a suicide, police say

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 12 (UPI) -- Progressive-rock icon Keith Emerson has died of a single gunshot wound to the head and his death is now being investigated as a suicide.

Entertainment Weekly confirmed the cause of his death with the Santa Monica Police.

The British keyboardist's band Emerson, Lake & Palmer announced earlier Friday that he had died, but it did not say how.

"We regret to announce that Keith Emerson died last night at his home in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, aged 71. We ask that the family's privacy and grief be respected," the group said in a Facebook post.

The band's albums include 1970's Emerson, Lake & Palmer, 1971's Tarkus, 1973's Brain Salad Surgery, 1978's Love Beach, 1992's Black Moon and 1994's In the Hot Seat. Among its hits are "Lucky Man," "The Barbarian" and "From the Beginning."