Alex Chilton, seen in 2004, hit the top of the charts as a teen and later became a cult hero with the band Big Star. Alex Chilton, seen in 2004, hit the top of the charts as a teen and later became a cult hero with the band Big Star. (Jack Plunkett/Associated Press)

Singer and guitarist Alex Chilton, who topped the charts as a teen during the 1960s and later became a cult hero with Big Star, has died at age 59.

Chilton died at a hospital in New Orleans on Wednesday after experiencing what appeared to be heart problems, said his longtime friend, John Fry. Fry said Chilton's wife, Laura, was very distressed by the unexpected death.

"Alex was an amazingly talented person, not just as a musician and vocalist and a songwriter, but he was intelligent and well read, and interested in a wide number of music genres," said Fry, the owner of Memphis-based Ardent Studios.

As the teenage singer for the pop-soul outfit the Box Tops, Chilton topped the charts with The Letter in 1967. The band's other hits were Soul Deep and Cry Like a Baby.

Chilton grew up in Memphis, Tenn., and formed the band with friends from school.

His short run with Big Star brought less mainstream success, but made him a cult hero to other rock musicians, as evidenced by the title of the 1987 Replacements song, Alex Chilton.

Big Star's three 1970s albums all earned spots on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest.

Big Star, which included guitarist Chris Bell, drummer Jody Stephens and bassist Andy Hummel, didn't become a mainstream success but is largely considered the band that invented power pop.

The group's records, especially #1 Record and Radio City, are cited by many bands, from R.E.M. to Wilco and Teenage Fanclub, as being primary influences.

One of the band's tunes written by Chilton, In the Street, served as the theme for That '70s Show.

After Big Star broke up in 1974, Chilton became interested in punk rock and played with a number of acts at the legendary CBGB club. He formed the punk group the Cramps and also dabbled in jazz.

In 1993, Big Star reunited and released its fourth album, In Space.

'Fame has a lot of baggage'

Chilton said in a 1987 interview with The Associated Press that he didn't mind flying under the radar with Big Star and later as a solo artist.

"What would be ideal would be to make a ton of money and have nobody know about you," he said. "Fame has a lot of baggage to carry around. I wouldn't want to be like Bruce Springsteen. I don't need that much money and wouldn't want to have 20 bodyguards following me.

"If I did become really popular, the critics probably wouldn't like me all that much," he said. "They like to root for the underdog."

Chilton had been scheduled to perform with Big Star on Saturday at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

"Alex Chilton always messed with your head, charming and amazing you while doing so," the festival's creative director, Brent Gulke, said in an email. "His gift for melody was second to none, yet he frequently seemed in disdain of that gift."