Bobby Keys, long-time saxophonist for the Rolling Stones, died early on Tuesday at his home in Franklin, Tennessee, after a long illness. 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 in a statement. “Bobby made a unique musical contribution to the band since the 1960s. He will be greatly missed.”

Keys was still a teenager when he played sax for Buddy Holly in the 1950s and later performed with John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Joe Cocker, in addition to the Stones.

“I can’t express the sense of sadness I feel, though Bobby would tell me to cheer up,” Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards said on Twitter. Keys and Richards shared the same birthdate, December 18, 1943, and the two became close, sharing late nights and drugs, according to their autobiographies.

“He was a good friend and an inspiration to play with,” said long-time friend and Nashville rock veteran Michael Webb, who performed with Keys in a band of Southern rock all-stars called Bobby Keys and the Suffering Bastards.

Webb said Keys had a liver ailment and had been in and out of the hospital in the past two months.