The Rolling Stones' longtime saxophonist Bobby Keys has died at the age of 70.

The musician had been battling liver disease cirrhosis in recent months, and was forced to pull out of the Brown Sugar hitmakers' tour dates in Australia and New Zealand in October. The Texas native began his music career as a teenager, touring with Buddy Holly and Bobby Vee as a teenager. He befriended the Rolling Stones in 1964, and was later recruited to play on their 1969 album Let It Bleed.

Keys was a mainstay on the British band's albums until 1974, and reunited with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and pals in 1980 for their Emotional Rescue project. He remained a key player on all subsequent albums, including 2005's A Bigger Bang.

Keys' biggest contributions appeared on hits like Brown Sugar, Can't You Hear Me Knocking and Happy.

He also played with Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd and late Beatles stars John Lennon and George Harrison.