Dusty Hill, the longtime bassist for the band ZZ Top who performed with the band for more than 50 years, died today at at his home in Houston. He was 72. A rep for the band confirmed the death but the cause is unknown.

In an official statement posted to Instagram, fellow ZZ Top members Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard paid tribute to their bandmate. “We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, Texas. We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top’. We will forever be connected to that ‘Blues Shuffle in C.’ You will be missed greatly, amigo.”

Many others from the rock music world issued statements on social media channels.

“Texas takes off its cowboy hat today. Rock and roll has been stopped in its tracks,” tweeted Martha Quinn, one of MTV’s original veejays. “Dusty Hill you will always be bad, nationwide and much missed.”

Flea, the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, tweeted, ““Ahhhh man, I love Dusty Hill. A true rocker. What a straight jammer.”

John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival tweeted, “We are devastated to hear about Dusty’s passing. We were so blessed to share the stage with the great Dusty and ZZ Top many times, and if that wasn’t rock & roll heaven, I don’t know what is. The show we did together just last week would be his last. So heartbreaking.”

A biography from IMDB states, “Dusty Hill was born Joseph Michael Hill in Dallas, Texas and grew up in Lakewood, East Dallas. He played cello at Woodrow Wilson High School. With his brother Rocky Hill and future fellow member Frank Beard, he began his career playing with local bands from Texas like the Warlocks, the Cellar Dwellers, and American Blues. Dusty then moved to Houston with Frank Beard and joined Billy Gibbons to form ZZ Top in 1969. Since then, Dusty has been the bassist and also the vocalist of a small number of their songs, Billy Gibbons performed the lead vocals of almost all of them. In addition, Dusty has also appeared in films and television series including Back to the Future Part III (1990) and as himself in an episode of the eleventh season of King of the Hill (1997), in which Hank Hill is said to be Dusty’s cousin.”

Hill was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of ZZ Top in 2004.