Famed session drummer BOBBY GRAHAM, who has played on records by DUSTY SPRINGFIELD and The Kinks, has died at the age of 69.
The musician performed on around 15,000 songs - most notably Springfield's I Only Want To Be With You, Petula Clark's Downtown, and The Kinks' You Really Got Me and All Day And All Of The Night.
Graham was also reportedly approached by Brian Epstein to replace Pete Best in The Beatles - but he turned down the offer because the group wasn't big enough at the time. The vacancy was later filled by Ringo Starr.
The Kinks producer, Shel Talmy, hailed the session artist as "the greatest drummer the U.K. has ever produced".
Graham died on Monday (14Sep09) at the Isabel Hospice in Welwyn Garden City, south east England, following a four-month battle with stomach cancer.
He is survived by his wife, Belinda, his son, Shawn, and his younger brother, Ian.