Crushing news from the Memphis Commercial Appeal: Alex Chilton, the legendary singer, songwriter, and performer who created music with the Box Tops, Big Star, and as a solo artist, died today. Chilton was in New Orleans and was scheduled to play in Austin this weekend with the reunited Big Star as part of SXSW. According to the paper, he complained of feeling ill and was taken by paramedic to the hospital. Cause of death has not been confirmed, but the Commercial Appeal reports that it is believed to be a heart attack. Chilton was 59. We'll update with further details when available.

Meanwhile, a brief selection of YouTube clips of various performances by Chilton, the Box Tops, and Big Star after the jump.

__The Box Tops: "The Letter" (Live on "Upbeat")

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__Big Star: "The Ballad of El Goodo" (Live in Missouri 1993)

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__Alex Chilton with Yo La Tengo: "Till the End of the Day" (Hanukkah 2007)

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Big Star: "Thank You Friends" (Oxford American Best of the South __series)

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