Greg Lake, who fronted both King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, has died aged 69, having fought a long battle with cancer.

BBC News reports: One of the founding fathers of progressive rock, the British musician is known for songs including “In the Court Of The Crimson King” and his solo hit “I Believe In Father Christmas”. He died on Wednesday after "a long and stubborn battle with cancer", said his manager.

The news comes nine months after Lake's band-mate Keith Emerson died. Keyboardist Emerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, coroners in the US said.

Lake's manager Stewart Young wrote on Facebook: "Yesterday, December 7th, I lost my best friend to a long and stubborn battle with cancer. Greg Lake will stay in my heart forever, as he has always been."

Guitarist Steve Hackett led tributes on Twitter, writing: "Music bows its head to acknowledge the passing of a great musician and singer, Greg Lake."

"Another sad loss with the passing of Greg Lake," wrote Rick Wakeman, keyboardist in pro rock band YES. "You left some great music with us my friend & so like Keith, you will live on."

Read more at BBC.com.

Surviving Emerson, Lake & Palmer member, Carl Palmer, pays tribute to Greg Lake with the following statement:

“It is with great sadness that I must now say goodbye to my friend and fellow band-mate, Greg Lake. Greg’s soaring voice and skill as a musician will be remembered by all who knew his music and recordings he made with ELP and King Crimson. I have fond memories of those great years we had in the 1970s and many memorable shows we performed together. Having lost Keith this year as well, has made this particularly hard for all of us. As Greg sang at the end of “Pictures At An Exhibition”, “death is life.” His music can now live forever in the hearts of all who loved him.” - Carl Palmer December 8, 2016