The music world has paid tribute to Greg Lake, the former King Crimson frontman and one third of the progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer, who has died at the age of 69.

His manager confirmed the musician passed away on Wednesday after a "long and stubborn battle with cancer".

Musicians and DJs including Rick Wakeman, Holly Johnson and Bob Harris paid tribute to a guitarist, bassist and songwriter also cherished for his solo festive hit with 1975's I Believe In Father Christmas, which reached number two in 1975.

Lake's manager Stewart Young announced the news as he posted a tribute on Lake's official website.

Born in Poole, Dorset in 1947, performed as a singer and bassist for King Crimson before joining forces with keyboardist Keith Emerson and drummer Carl Palmer for their eponymous rock supergroup in 1970.

The prog rock legends released a series of hit records across the decade, including UK number one Tarkus in 1971.

Lake went on to join forces with a number of other leading rock musicians, including Gary Moore, during his career.

He toured again with Emerson in 2010 and performed along with him and Palmer for a final time at a festival at London's Victoria Park in July 2010.