Anthony Ciccone, Madonna's older brother, dies at 66: 'You planted many important seeds'

Anthony Ciccone, the eldest sibling of Madonna, died Friday evening at 66 years old.

Madonna paid tribute to her late brother on her Instagram Story Tuesday. "Thank you for blowing my mind as a young girl and introducing me to Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Buddhism, Taoism, Charles Bukowski, Richard Brautigan, Jack Kerouac, Expansive Thinking, Outside the Box," she wrote alongside a group photo with Ciccone and some friends.

"You planted many important seeds," the Queen of Pop added.

Ciccone's brother-in-law, Joe Henry, announced his death in an Instagram post Saturday. Henry is married to Madonna's younger sister Melanie Ciccone. Anthony Ciccone led a complicated life and shared close ties with his family, Henry said in the post.

"Anthony was a complex character; and god knows: we tangled in moments, as true brothers can," Henry wrote. "But I loved him, and understood him better than I was sometimes willing to let on."

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Henry and Madonna for comment.

Anthony Ciccone was born May 3, 1956, in Rochester, Michigan, the oldest child of Madonna and Silvio Ciccone. His younger sister Madonna gained global fame as a singer-songwriter and actress.

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Henry ended his tribute with a parting message for Ciccone as the family mourns his loss.

"But trouble fades; and family remains— with hands reached across the table. Farewell, then, brother Anthony," Henry said.

No details about the death were provided. Public records show Ciccone was most recently living in Michigan, where he and his seven siblings grew up.

National news media in recent years reported that Ciccone had spent some time living on the streets and at a rehabilitation facility. Henry's post announcing Ciccone's death nodded to difficulties, saying “trouble fades,” family remains, with “hands reached” across the table.

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Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Ciccone dead: Madonna breaks her silence on brother's death