B.B. Dickerson, the bassist who was a co-founding member of the funk band War, has died. A representative confirmed to Billboard that Dickerson died at his home in Long Beach, California. He was 71.

Dickerson was an original member of War and helped define many of their biggest songs as a bassist, vocalist, and co-writer. He was the lead vocalist behind the band’s 10-minute opus “The World Is a Ghetto,” and his bass line was the driving force behind “Low Rider.” He was also a performer and co-writer on “The Cisco Kid,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” “Summer,” and more. He was a member of the band until 1979, and in the ’90s, he joined his War bandmates to perform as the Lowrider Band.