BOBBY KEYS, longtime saxophonist for the Rolling Stones, died early 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.

    Michael Webb, who performed with Keys, said Keys had a liver ailment and had been in and out of the hospital in the past two months. Keys performed on albums the Stones put out during what many critics consider their peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s — “Let It Bleed,” “Sticky Fingers” and “Exile on Main Street.”(SD-Agencies)