Bobby Keys, the saxophonist who performed with the Rolling Stones for almost five decades, died at the age of 70 after a battle with cirrhosis, according to news reports.

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

The Slaton, Texas native had his first encounter with the iconic rock band at the San Antonio Teen Fair in 1964. A few years later, Keys and frontman Mick Jagger met again at a Delaney and Bonnie session and it led to collaborations on albums including Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street and Brown Sugar.

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Keys toured with the band on its recent 14 on Fire tour, but was absent during the gigs in Australia reportedly due to his liver condition.

“That’s part of the music that I come from, cause I can't read music, I have no idea what’s gonna come out of that horn half the – I mean, I have an idea now. But I can't read music. That's not where I come from musically,” Keys told Rolling Stone in 2012. “I come strictly from feeling, and that feeling comes from rock & roll."