War bassist Morris ‘B.B.’ Dickerson passes away at 71 years of age

War bassist Morris ‘B.B.’ Dickerson passes away at 71 years of age after years of battling an undisclosed illness

The music community is in mourning this weekend, after bassist Morris ‘B.B.’ Dickerson, an original War founding member, passed away.

The musician passed away peacefully in a Long Beach hospital on Friday, representatives confirmed to Billboard

He had long been battling an undisclosed illness at the time of his passing, though it’s unclear what he was suffering from.

R.I.P.: The music community is in mourning this weekend, after bassist Morris ‘B.B.’ Dickerson, an original War founding member, passed away

Dickerson was born in Torrance, California in 1949, and took up playing the bass at just 12 years of age.

War’s origins started in 1962 when Howard E. Scott and Harold Brown formed a group called The Creators in Long Beach.

Dickerson became one of the founding members of War in 1969 along with Scott, Brown, Eric Burdon, Lee Oskar, Thomas ‘Papa Dee’ Allen, Charles Miller and Leroy ‘Lonnie’ Jordan. 

Founding members: Dickerson became one of the founding members of War in 1969 along with Scott, Brown, Eric Burdon, Lee Oskar, Thomas 'Papa Dee' Allen, Charles Miller and Leroy 'Lonnie' Jordan

Founding members: Dickerson became one of the founding members of War in 1969 along with Scott, Brown, Eric Burdon, Lee Oskar, Thomas ‘Papa Dee’ Allen, Charles Miller and Leroy ‘Lonnie’ Jordan

Dickerson’s work on the bass helped create War’s signature sound, while also co-writing some of the band’s biggest hits like The Cisco Kid Why Can’t We Be Friends and Low Rider.

The group released their first two albums – Eric Burdon Declares ‘War’ and The Black Man’s Burdon in 1970.

They followed those up with two more albums in 1971, War and All Day Music, the latter of which was their first RIAA certified gold album. 

Signature sound: Dickerson's work on the bass helped create War's signature sound, while also co-writing some of the band's biggest hits like The Cisco Kid Why Can't We Be Friends and Low Rider

Signature sound: Dickerson’s work on the bass helped create War’s signature sound, while also co-writing some of the band’s biggest hits like The Cisco Kid Why Can’t We Be Friends and Low Rider