The music world is mourning the unexpected passing of Joey DeFrancesco, who died Aug. 25 from a massive heart attack, according to a statement released by Hammond Organ World. The noted organist and multi-instrumentalist was 51.

A generational talent, DeFrancesco was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania on April 10, 1971, to “Papa” John, a railroad electrician and organist/vocalist, and Laurene DeFrancesco. He began playing organ when he was 4 years old and had memorized Jimmy Smith’s “The Sermon” in six months when he was 5, according to a 1992 DownBeat profile.