Nick Colionne, smooth jazz guitarist, dies on New Year's Day: 'I am better for knowing him'

Nick Colionne, a smooth jazz artist known for his guitar skills and his colorful suits and hats, died unexpectedly Saturday, according to his publicist.

He was hospitalized Dec. 31 "with some pain" and died early the next morning at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Elgin, Illinois, according to a news release provided to USA TODAY by representative Christine Clark. His age was unknown. 

"We are devastated at losing Nick," the statement from Colionne's team reads. "Tributes by Nick's adoring fans and fellow artists around the world tell a story of an extremely talented man who lived life to the fullest and who was clearly loved by everyone. Nick's legacy will live on. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nick's family at this time." 

The artist's team remembered Colionne as an "ultra-stylish" urban jazz star who released a string of independent albums in the 1990s before gaining prominence on the global jazz scene in the early 2000s. 

Over the course of his career, Colionne hit No. 1 on Billboard's smooth jazz airplay chart eight times, and he was the only smooth jazz artist with five No. 1 hits from a single album, 2016's "The Journey." 

Fellow musicians publicly mourned Colionne, known to many of them as "Uncle Nick." 

"This man took me under his wing like a nephew," musician Bee Boisseau wrote in an Instagram post. "Sharp dressed ... AT ALL TIMES! And he could play that daggone guitar!!! So much fun to be around ... so much wisdom ... such talent! I am better for knowing him." 

Saxophonist Michael Lington, who had performed multiple times with Colionne since the two met "many moons ago," mourned the artist he dubbed his "brother." 

"We all have the same experience with him, always fun and warm on and off stage," Lington tweeted.

Colionne's most recent album, "Finger Painting," arrived in April 2020. He had a new project in the works "in recent months," his publicist said. His album "Just Like That" is expected this spring. 

He had several 2022 tour dates planned, including three Curaçao-based cruises in January and February. 

Outside of his own recording career, the artist received multiple honors, including the 1996 Malcolm X College Alumnus of the Year Award. He spent the past 20 years mentoring children at a school in the suburbs of his hometown, Chicago, and received the Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award at the 2010 National Smooth Jazz Awards for his community work and his support of breast cancer causes. 

Funeral arrangements will be announced this week.