ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill, 72, dies at his Houston home just days after dropping out of shows due to a hip injury

Dusty Hill, one of the founding members of the legendary 1970s rock group ZZ Top, has died, his bandmates announced on Wednesday. He was 72 years old.

Hill, a bassist and vocalist for the band whose hits include Legs and Gimme All Your Lovin', passed away in his sleep while at home in Houston, Texas.

His death was announced on Wednesday by his bandmates, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard, who shared the sad news on Instagram.

Hill's death comes after the musician had to drop out of recent ZZ Top shows when he was taking care of a hip injury. 

At that time, the band said its longtime guitar tech, Elwood Francis, would fill in on bass, slide guitar and harmonica. 

It is not known if his death is related to his recovery from the injury.

A ZZ Top concert scheduled for Wednesday night at the CCNB Amphitheatre in Simpsonville, South Carolina has been canceled. 

Fans who bought tickets through TicketMaster and Live Nation will automatically have their purchases refunded. 

The ZZ Top concert scheduled for Friday at Tuscaloosa Amphitheater in Alabama has not been canceled, though the venue encourages fans to check the band's social media and the amphitheater's web page for any changes. 

Sad loss: One of the founding members of the legendary 1970s rock group ZZ Top died this week. Dusty Hill, a bassist and vocalist for the band, died in his sleep while at home in Houston, Texas. Seen in 2010

Hard to share: 'We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX,' the note began

Hill is seen left alongside bandmate Billy Gibbons during an appearance in Paris in 2012

'We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX,' the note began.

'We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the "Top." 

'We will forever be connected to that Blues Shuffle in C. You will be missed greatly, amigo.'

Born Joe Michael Hill in Dallas, he, Gibbons and Beard formed ZZ Top in Houston in the late 1970s. 

As far as Dusty stepping away from recent shows, the band shared the news on social media.

The trio: The news was shared by his bandmates, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard on Wednesday. The image above shows the band in 1984. From left: Hill, Gibbons and Beard

'The members of ZZ Top, Billy, and Frank, would like to share that Dusty, their fearless Bass player, is on a short detour back to Texas, to address a hip issue,' it was noted.

'They await a speedy recovery and have him back pronto.' 

Dusty goes far back with the band. He was one of the founding members of ZZ Top in 1969.

Hill was the lead bass player and secondary lead vocalist for he super group which has the hit song Legs.

They became popular in the 1970s and did very well in the 1980s. Their signature was very long beards on two of the band members, Hill and Gibbons.

Tops: ZZ Top released Tres Hombres in 1973, which reached the No. 8 position on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Their top hits from that were La Grange and Jesus Just Left Chicago. The band is seen above in this undated file photo. From left: Beard, Gibbons, and Hill

Older days: Hill of ZZ Top relaxes in the dressing room after performing at the Georgia Southern College Coliseum in Statesboro, Georgia in 1973

Last week, the band announced on social media that Hill was nursing a 'hip issue' which forced them to replace him during a recent show

ZZ Top released Tres Hombres in 1973, which reached the No. 8 position on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Their top hits from that were La Grange and Jesus Just Left Chicago.

On their album Eliminator, they had the massive hits Gimme All Your Lovin' and Sharp Dressed Man as well as Legs. 

ZZ Top's discography numbers 15 albums, several of which won awards.

In 2004, ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Update: There is a show scheduled for Wednesday night in Simpsonville, South Carolina. It is not yet known if it will continue. The image above shows Gibbons and Hill in 2014

The three of us: Their signature was very long beards on two of the band members, Hill and Gibbons. From left: Gibbons, Beard, and Hill in 2016