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In particular his influences ranged from Johann Sebastian Bach (a constant reference in his music and in his keyboard improvisation) to Medieval popular music and the English tradition of Edward Elgar. He studied classical piano from the age of five, with a local teacher, Frederick Allt, and this focus on a classical grounding to his material was a recurring trademark in his work, both in composition, arranging and his instrumental solos on piano, organ and electronic keyboards. His father was an amateur saxophonist and encouraged Lord from an early age. Lord was born in Leicester on 9 June 1941 to Miriam (1909–1995 née Hudson) and Reginald Lord, growing up at 120 Averil Road and retaining a strong bond with the city throughout his life. Lord was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 8 April 2016 as a member of Deep Purple. On 15 July 2011, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree at De Montfort Hall by the University of Leicester. On 11 November 2010, he was inducted as an Honorary Fellow of Stevenson College in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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He and drummer Ian Paice were the only continuous presence in the band between 19, and also from when it was re-established, in 1984, until Lord's retirement in 2002. Lord's distinctive organ playing during Deep Purple's hard rock period was essential to the band's signature heavy sound and contributed to the early development of heavy metal. Together with the other members, he collaborated on most of his band's most popular songs. In 1968, Lord co-founded Deep Purple, a hard rock band of which he was regarded as the leader until 1970. He also spent time in the bands Whitesnake, Paice Ashton Lord, The Artwoods, The Flower Pot Men and Santa Barbara Machine Head. John Douglas Lord (9 June 1941 – 16 July 2012) was an English orchestral and rock composer, pianist, and Hammond organ player known for his pioneering work in fusing rock with classical or baroque forms, especially with the British rock band Deep Purple.