LACKAWANNA, N.Y. — ​The music world is mourning one of the world’s greatest jazz organists and a Lackawanna native, Dr. Lonnie Smith.

Blue Note Records says Smith died earlier this week from a form of lung disease. He was 79-years-old.

Smith got his start playing and singing at local venues throughout Buffalo in the 1950’s. He later broke onto the international jazz scene as a member of the George Benson Ensemble.

Earlier this year, Smith released what turned out to be his final album, “Breathe.”

He is one of very few musicians to be considered a jazz master by the National Endowment of the Arts.

Smith was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 2009.