The music industry is once again shaking by the passing of one of its greats.
Rolling Stones session saxophonist Bobby Keys passed away on Wednesday in his home in Franklin, Tennessee due to a still undisclosed illness at the age of 70 years old.
Branded by Rolling Stone Magazine as "the larger-than-life saxophone player", Keys went on the road with the Stones for more than 45 years and contributed to age-old classics such as "Brown Sugar" off the 1971 record "Sticky Fingers" and "Live with Me" from the 1969 record "Let It Bleed."
According a report by Rollingstone.com, Keys met the band in 1964 at the San Antonio Teen Fair, where he admitted to be skeptical about the men from England, at first. But after getting to listen to their songs, he was finally won over, noting that "there was some actual rock & roll" in their music.
As years passed, Keys met with lead singer Mick Jagger once again during a Delanie and Bonnie session. From then on, he began working with the Rolling Stones for some of their most notable records, including double-disc album "Exile on Main Street."
The report also revealed that the saxophone part of the song "Brown Sugar" was originally intended to be a guitar solo but Jagger and their producer Jimmy Miller decided to add in Keys' part, just for kicks.
The Stones' notoriety during the 60's and 70's were the stuff of lore. Stories about televisions sets thrown over hotel balconies surfaced. While these stories hold true, it was also revealed that guitarist Keith Richards and Bobby Keys were the ones responsible for such antics.
The bond between both men instantly turned them into best of friends. Which is why among all the band's members, Richards was the one devastated the most.
"I have lost the largest pal in the world and I can't express the sense of sadness I feel although Bobby would tell me to cheer up," Richards lamented.
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