Ed King, the guitarist who came up with one of the most recognizable riffs in rock ‘n roll history, has died of cancer at 68.

King, who joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973, co-wrote the group’s classic ”Sweet Home Alabama”.

He left the group in 1975.

Two years later, a plane crash killed singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, singer Cassie Gaines and others in Skynyrd’s inner circle.

King returned when surviving members of the band reunited in 1987 before leaving again in 1996 for health reasons.

He was inducted with Lynyrd Skynyrd into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

King was also founding member of the Strawberry Alarm Clock, co-writing the 1967 hit ”Incense and Peppermints”.