Lee Andrews, the lead singer in doo-wop group Lee Andrews & the Hearts and father of the Roots' Questlove, has died, Billboard reports. He was 79.

In 1953, Andrews formed Lee Andrews & the Hearts in Philadephia. In 1957, Chess picked up their hit "Long Lonely Nights" from Mainline, and did the same for "Teardrops." The following year, the group moved to United Artists and charted with "Try the Impossible." They continued to tour in the ’60s.

Questlove, born Ahmir-Khalib Thompson, has written about his father's influence. When Questlove was 10, Andrews encouraged him to take on the group's light show. Two years later, Andrews' drummer sprained his arm before a concert. "My Dad just said, 'You know the show. Go play it,'" Questlove writes in his memoir, Mo' Meta Blues. It was his debut as a drummer.

On Instagram yesterday evening, Questlove wrote: