Australian jazz legend Graeme Bell has died in a Sydney hospital aged 97, according to reports.
Fairfax newspapers report the pianist, composer and bandleader died in the Prince of Wales hospital on Wednesday following a stroke.
Known as the father of Australian jazz, Bell was born in Melbourne in 1914 to a musical family.
He began studying classical piano at 11 but his older brother Roger converted him to jazz.
Bell first played jazz with his brother in Melbourne before setting up his own ensemble. He later formed the Australian Jazz Band.
Bell toured Europe and the UK many times before moving from Melbourne to Sydney, where he eventually formed the Graeme Bell All Stars jazz band.
His musical career saw him appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1978 and an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1990.
Bell was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1997, alongside the Bee Gees and Paul Kelly.
The Australian Jazz Awards are nicknamed The Bells in his honour.
Bell is survived by his third wife, Dorothy, daughter Christina, son Jason and two granddaughters.
