Outlaws guitarist Freddie Salem has died, his band confirmed on Monday. He was 70.
The band shared a post to Facebook confirming that Salem died from “complications due to cancer.”
“[Salem] will be remembered for his outgoing personality and passion for music,” they wrote in part.
“He was an electric performer and beloved musician and he will be missed,” the statement concluded.
The group also posted a picture of Salem rocking out on stage to their Instagram Story, adding, “Rest in peace Freddie Salem.”
Salem began his time with the rock band in 1977 on their album “Bring It Back Alive” when he replaced original guitarist Henry Paul. He continued playing with the group for their next four albums.
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Salem was notably involved with several of their hit songs –– including “Riders In the Sky,” “Green Grass and High Tides” and “White Horses.”
He eventually left the band in 1983 after they were dropped by Arista Records.
“Most memories of my tenure with the Outlaws were the best of times,” he previously told the Road to Jacksonville blog. “We became a magnificent recording and live headlining Band selling out major arenas and coliseum’s [sic] worldwide. It was an exciting time to build the visibility and success of the band. As far as regrets, none.”
Salem always had a passion for music, but he originally started focusing on being a drummer as a child, according to the same interview. When he was 15, he eventually transitioned to the guitar.
“My parents loved music but none were musicians. My father owned a bar. I learned much from Jukebox he had at the place. Great selection and variation of music,” he told the blog.
After mastering the guitar, he began his music career with The Chambers Brother Band in 1973 and toured with them for over a year.
Salem went on to record a solo album called “Cat Dance” with the band the Wildcats in 1982.
The musician also had a brief touring stint with the Rolling Stones that he called “incomparable.”
“No other band in the world tours like the Stones. Its [sic] similar to a traveling Circus. Always something going on. The Stones treated the Outlaws very well. The experience was incomparable to anything I had ever experienced, till this day. Even though we had performed with the Grateful Dead and other stadium shows but nothing even came close to the Stones. Brilliant experience indeed,” he shared.
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