Rolling Stones saxophonist Bobby Keys dies at 70

Bobby Keys, the saxophone player who toured with the Rolling Stones on and off for 45 years, has died. He was 70.

"The Rolling Stones are devastated by the loss of their very dear friend and legendary saxophone player, Bobby Keys," the band said. "He will be greatly missed." In a separate statement, guitarist Keith Richards said he "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."

As a teenager in Texas, Keys played with Buddy Holly and was part of Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars tour. When he first heard the Rolling Stones in 1964 at the San Antonio Teen Fair, he decided they were "the real deal." He went on to play on Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main Street, with his most famous studio performance being 1971's "Brown Sugar."

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Keys told Rolling Stone in 2012 that he enjoyed playing with the Stones because they had a "natural thing." "I can't read music, that's not where I come from musically," he said. "I come strictly from feeling, and that feeling comes from rock 'n' roll." --Catherine Garcia