“We, like the entire music world, mourn today the loss of Hilton Valentine, one of the founders of The Animals.
Valentine was a groundbreaking guitarist who influenced the sound of rock and roll for decades to come, ”the statement said.
With the participation of Valentine, The Animals released three studio albums: the debut The Animals (1964), the second Animal Tracks (1965) and Animalisms (1966).
His name, like other members of the original lineup, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
In September, the death of former drummer for British rock band Uriah Heep Lee Kerslake was reported.