Welch had undisclosed health issues and reportedly left a suicide note.
Bob WelchBob Welch, a former member of the band Fleetwood Mac, was found dead at his Nashville home Thursday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, MTV reported.
Welch had undisclosed health issues and left a suicide note, according to WKRN-TV in Nashville.
Welch was a guitarist and vocalist for Fleetwood Mac from 1971 to 1974. He left the group in late 1974, just before Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined the group.
He had a solo career in the 1970s and formed the British rock group Paris in 1976. His hits included "Sentimental Lady" in 1977 and "Ebony Eyes" in 1978.
Mick Fleetwood, one of the founding members of Fleetwood Mac and Welch's manager during his solo career, told Reuters that Welch's suicide was "incredibly out of character."
"He was a very, very profoundly intelligent human being and always in good humor, which is why this is so unbelievably shocking," Fleetwood said. "He was a huge part of our history which sometimes gets forgotten ... mostly his legacy would be his songwriting abilities that he brought to Fleetwood Mac, which will survive all of us."
Nicks said in a statement to CNN that Welch's death was "devastating."
"I had many great times with him after Lindsey and I joined Fleetwood Mac," singer Nicks said. "He was an amazing guitar player -- he was funny, sweet -- and he was smart. I am so very sorry for his family and for the family of Fleetwood Mac -- so,so sad."