After a protracted illness, JEFF COOK, a founding member and lead guitarist for the country band Alabama, passed away on Tuesday at his vacation home in Destin, Florida. The death was confirmed by Cook’s agent. He was 73.

The group changed its name to Alabama in 1977, and at the end of the 1970s, it started to gain popularity in the country music industry after Mark Herndon joined as a full-time drummer.

With eight Number One singles, including “Tennessee River,” “Feels So Right,” and “Mountain Music,” the group launched their major-label career at RCA, and it was nothing short of sensational. They achieved over 30 Number One country hits in total, with one from 1980 to 1993. These include timeless songs like “Dixieland Delight,” “Song of the South,” and “I’m in a Hurry (and Don’t Know Why).” They were a rare group to win the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year Award, taking home the coveted award in 1982, 1983, and 1984. Their album sales exceeded 75 million.

Cook’s guitar playing was remarkable, and he also played a variety of other instruments, such as the mandolin, fiddle, and keyboards. He also added vocal harmonies to Owen’s main melodies in Alabama. He even injected a little rock & roll theatrics into country music by playing a double-neck electric guitar frequently. Shortly after announcing their retirement, the trio was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. They returned to touring, minus Herndon, in 2013.

Cook, who obtained his broadcasting license at age 14, also worked as a radio personality while attending Gadsden State Community College to study electronic technology. Later, he constructed Cook Sound Studios at his Fort Payne residence, where he collaborated with other aspiring musicians. Beginning in the middle of the 2000s, Cook also released a few solo albums, including 2008’s Just Pickin’ and 2011’s 2 Rock 4 Country.