( CNN ) -- Rock guitarist and singer Alex Chilton , known for his work with bands the Box Tops and Big Star , died Wednesday . He was 59 . Chilton was having heart problems and died in an emergency room in New Orleans , Louisiana , said longtime friend and business associate John Fry . `` Obviously , we are all stunned and deeply saddened at this news , '' Fry said . Chilton started in music as a teen in the 1960s , as vocalist for the psychedelic soul group the Box Tops , Fry said . They were known for the No . 1 hit `` 'The Letter '' and songs such as `` Neon Rainbow '' and `` Cry Like a Baby . '' After that group disbanded in 1970 , Chilton formed the Memphis rock group Big Star . Though that band had a short life , breaking up in 1974 , its music catapulted the group and Chilton to cult status . `` While Big Star struggled with success commercially , their early '70s , power-pop sound is often cited as directly influencing bands like Cheap Trick , R.E.M . and the Replacements , '' Billboard magazine said in its biography of Chilton 's group . The evidence of that : a song the Replacements released in 1987 , called `` Alex Chilton . '' Part of the chorus of that song is `` Children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round . They sing , I 'm in love . '' In the 1990s , Big Star got back together . Chilton and the band were scheduled to perform at the South by Southwest music festival in Texas this weekend . CNN 's Denise Quan contributed to this report .
Guitarist known for his work with bands the Box Tops and Big Star . Chilton was having heart problems and died in an emergency room in New Orleans . Comment: