The original bassist for Jethro Tull, died Thursday at his home in Hilo, Hawaii. Glenn Cornick was 67. His family told The New York Times the cause of death was congestive heart failure.

Cornick appeared on Jethro Tull's first three studio albums, 1968's This Was, 1969's Stand Up and 1970's Benefit and played on the group's early tours. He exited the band in 1971, after forming the group Wild Turkey and before Tull recorded of its classic 1971 album Aqualung. Prior to Jethro Tull's formation, Cornick played with frontman Ian Anderson and the band's founding guitarist Mick Abrahams in the John Evan Band.

After Wild Turkey disbanded in 1974, Cornick played in the short-lived group Paris with ex-Fleetwood Mac singer/guitarist Bob Welch.

Anderson paid tribute to Cornick in a message posted on Jethro Tull's official website. "Glenn was a man of great bonhomie and ready to befriend anyone -- especially fellow musicians, wrote the singer. "Always cheerful, he brought to the early stage performances of Tull a lively bravado both as a personality and a musician…His background in the beat groups of the North of England and his broad knowledge of music were always helpful in establishing the arrangements of the early Tull."

Anderson also noted that Cornick continued to play music with various groups throughout his life, and pointed out that he frequently took part in Tull fan conventions, "where he would join in with gusto to rekindle the musical moments of the early repertoire."

Cornick is survived by his wife, Brigitte, and three children -- son Drew, daughter Molly and son Alex.

 

 

 

 

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