Rolling Stones Saxophonist Bobby Keys Dead at 70

[Tuesday Afternoon]

By Patrick Doyle | December 2, 2014

Bobby Keys, the larger-than-life saxophone player who toured with the Rolling Stones for more than 45 years and played on studio classics like "Brown Sugar" and "Live With Me," has passed away. He was 70.

"If you believe in the magic of rock & roll, which I devoutly do, it isn't in the individual," Keys told Rolling Stone in 2012. "I’ve played in bands with A-team players around, but unless they can play together, it doesn’t do any good."

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

“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," Stones guitarist Keith Richards said in a statement. "My condolences to all that knew him and his love of music.”

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rolling-stones-saxophonist-bobby-keys-dead-at-70-20141202#ixzz3Klq7yRIW

[hifiguy]

1. Man, could he blow that horn.

Another legend for The Great Band in the Sky. RIP, Bobby.

[bluesbassman]

2. Bummer! RIP Bobby, your talent and musicianship will be missed.

One of the best sax solos in Rock right here.

[abq e streeter]

9. Yup.I'll miss that, and just miss him, too.

[bluesbassman]

14. I know you will Brother.

[abq e streeter]

16. Thanks...

He had a lot of friends here in NM, and we're all gonna miss him.

[Kali]

3. this makes me sad for a long time DUer who rarely posts anymore

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x9549406

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x9587595

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. oh. yeah. wonder how he is doing these days?

any word

[Kali]

8. I see him posting on Facebook when I go there

but I don't actually do that very often.

[abq e streeter]

11. I'm still alive apparently.

Or allegedly.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. Hey !! Good to see you, stranger ...

Friend me on FB

[abq e streeter]

10. Gonna miss Bobby

Just happened to check in with DU to see if there were any threads about him. True, I no longer post on DU. Made exceptions for this and for letting Guitarman's DU friends know of his passing this fall.

[Kali]

13. ...

[olddots]

4. one of the Texas greats

He could play anything and it would rock plus he excelled in the key of E which most sax players don't like .

[abq e streeter]

17. 100% true including the key of E on a tenor.

Of course if you're gonna be a rock and roll sax player (and especially with the Stones) you don't have much choice but to be fluent in E.

[Sweet Freedom]

5. I love Bobby

I will miss him.

[Enthusiast]

7. I appreciate Bobby's sax! Great stuff!

[abq e streeter]

15. Great pic of Bobby too.

And he looks so healthy in it.But the wild life finally caught up with him; it was cirrhosis....
I'm bummed ,as there's a get together tonight in Albq of some of his many friends here, and I'm not in town. But he sure packed one hell of a lot of living into 70 years. For a man who lived to make music, have more fun than one human should be allowed, and raise some serious hell along the way, he sure succeeded wildly.I'll be thinking of him on his birthday next week too, as well as of his wife,Holly, son Jesse and brother Darrell.
It's both a total fluke, and a great honor, to have been able to call him a friend.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

18. glad you like the picture and thanks for sharing your story. Good to see you.

Check your PM

[abq e streeter]

19. Just checked.

BTW, there are a couple of pics of Bobby and I on my fb page Dec 2nd and 3rd.