r.i.p.

Coroner: Keith Emerson’s Death Has Been Ruled a Suicide

Musician Keith Emerson signing autographs for fans, November 11th 1987.
Emerson. Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

USA Today reports that the late Keith Emerson committed suicide. The update comes from the Los Angeles coroner’s office, less than a week after the 71-year-old musician was found in his Santa Monica home. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to a spokesperson, and revealed that Emerson suffered from heart disease and depression. The artist’s friend and bandmate, Carl Palmer, said over the weekend that he’s planning a musical memorial to honor Emerson this summer. “I will deeply miss Keith and I want you all to know I will carry on flying the ELP banner and playing the great music with my band for many years to come,” he wrote on his website, following an initial statement. “We have lost a very talented and gifted musician but this great music will continue for a long, long time. I will be looking at putting together a tribute show [details will be available here] to Keith Emerson hopefully in June this year, and I hope this is something you will all want to come along and see to help celebrate his music.”

Coroner: Emerson’s Death Ruled Suicide