Tyner was a part of Coltrane's "Classic Quartet" that also included bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones.

Legendary jazz pianist McCoy Tyner, has passed away at the age of 81.

The news of his death was shared via a family statement.

"McCoy was an inspired musician who devoted his life to his art, his family and his spirituality," the statement reads. "McCoyTyner's music and legacy will continue to inspire fans and future talent for generations to come."

It's unknown what was the cause of Tyner's death.

Tyner was born in Philadelphia in 1938, and began studying the piano at age 13. In 1960, Tyner joined John Coltrane's quarter that also included bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones. The quartet, which became known as the "Classic Quartet," was a part of the making of Coltrane's beloved A Love Supreme album.

"A Love Supreme was a pinnacle, where we had reached a certain point, a high point in the band in terms of communication, spiritual feelings between us," Tyner said of the album in a 2001 interview with Jerry Jazz Musician. "We were very good friends, and we loved playing together, and the music came first. That was the philosophical concept of that band, is that the music is number one. I think that A Love Supreme definitely tells that story."

Tyner's work has also been sampled in songs by Black Sheep ("The Choice Is Yours" samples "Impressions") and Madlib ("Deodato" samples "One of Another Kind"). Saxophonist Branford Marsalis and American jazz label Blue Note Records have offered tributes to Tyner on Twitter.

H/T: Pitchfork