Steely Dan's Becker dies

Arock-and-roll fan with a penchant for harmony and obtuse references, Walter Becker, the guitarist, bassist and co-founder of the 1970s rock group Steely Dan, which sold more than 40 million albums and produced such hit singles as "Reelin' In the Years," “Rikki Don't Lose that Number" and "Deacon Blues" died Sunday. He was 67.

His official website announced his death Sunday with no further details.

Donald Fagen said in a statement that his Steely Dan bandmate was not only "an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter" but also "smart as a whip," ''hysterically funny" and "cynical about human nature, including his own."

"I intend to keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band," Fagen wrote.

Although Steely Dan had been touring recently, Becker had missed performances earlier in the summer in Los Angeles and New York. Fagen later told Billboard that Becker was recovering from a procedure. Fagen said at the time he hoped that Becker would be fine soon.

Musicians were quick to mourn Becker on social media. Mark Ronson tweeted that Becker was "one half of the team I aspire to every time I sit down at a piano."

Both Ryan Adams and the band The Mountain Goats tweeted that Becker changed their lives. Slash posted a photo of Becker on Instagram, writing "RIP #WalterBecker."