Rolling Stones Saxophonist Bobby Keys Dies At 70

Rolling Stones saxophonist Bobby Keys died at age 70 on Tuesday. He had been fighting the disease cirrhosis and passed away at his home in Franklin, Tennessee.

Keys toured with The Rolling Stones for more than 45 years. He’s known for the studio hits “Brown Sugar” (which was originally supposed to be a guitar solo) and “Live With Me.”

He met the band at a fair in San Antonio, Texas in 1964. Keys was skeptical of the English musicians at first, but that quickly faded when he heard them play. He enjoyed their sound and energy and reconnected with Mick Jagger a few years later.

The band released a statement saying, “The Rolling Stones are devastated by the loss of their very dear friend and legendary saxophone player, Bobby Keys. Bobby made a unique musical contribution to the band since the 1960s. He will be greatly missed.”

Bobby Keys played during the band’s Glastonbury headline slot in 2013. However, in October he pulled out of playing in New Zealand and Australia because of his poor health.

Keys didn’t only play for The Rolling Stones. He’s featured on albums from Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Who, Harry Nilsson, Delaney Bramlett, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Joe Crocker. He also played with John Lennon and participated in Lennon’s famous “lost weekend.”

The saxophonist started touring when he was 15 with Bobby Vee and Buddy Holly. In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2012, Keys described Holly as “the first guy I heard play electric guitar and it impressed the hell out of me.”

Many Twitter users are upset Bobby Keys died and wishing the legendary sax player a peaceful rest.

The late Bobby Keys defined rock saxophone playing and was an essential element in the classic Stones sound. RIP. http://t.co/3gmrIYyfx9

— Tom Ceraulo (@tceraulo) December 2, 2014

RIP saxophonist Bobby Keys, who was once kicked off a Stones tour because he wouldn't get out of a Champagne-filled bathtub and go on stage

— Ethan Smith (@ethanwsj) December 2, 2014

A message from Keith on the passing of Bobby Keys. http://ift.tt/1yd37Tg

— Keith Richards (@officialKeef) December 2, 2014

Keith Richards and Bobby Keys share the same birthday. The two have been life-long friends, and Richards described

Keys in his autobiography as “my closest pal. A soul of rock and roll, a solid man, also a depraved maniac.”

Richards and Keys even had a stereotypical rock and roll moment of throwing a TV off a hotel balcony in 1972.

Though Keys toured since he was a teenager, his love of music never faded. He couldn’t read sheet music, but he played from feeling and listening for rhythms. Reportedly, no matter how many times he played “Brown Sugar,” he never was sick of it.

Besides Richards and music, he also had a lifelong relationship with marijuana. He previously told Rolling Stone, “I’ve been smoking pot for over 50 years, and I never let a day go by unless I’m in jail. I am a devout pothead. I have been, will be, don’t see a damn thing wrong with it except the cost. Legalize it.”

Though Bobby Keys has died, we can still honor his memory by listening to his music. Check out the video below to hear him play “Brown Sugar” live.

Rolling Stones Saxophonist Bobby Keys Dies At 70