Legendary British bassist Herbie Flowers, who played with some of the world’s biggest musical icons including David Bowie, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Marc Bolan, has died aged 86 as emotional tributes were paid to the “beautiful soul”.
Born Brian Keith Flowers, but known as ‘Herbie’ throughout his career, Flowers grew up in Isleworth, Middlesex before moving to Ditchling, East Sussex and He was a member of the bands Blue Mink, T. Rex and Sky.
He also contributed his talents to hundreds of recordings and He is also credited with creating the famous bass line on Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side from his 1972 album Transformer, giving the song its unforgettable sound.
It was Reed’s only song to reach the Top 20 in the United States.
News of Flowers’ death on Thursday was confirmed by close family members on social media.
Legendary British bassist Herbie Flowers, who played with some of the world’s biggest music icons including David Bowie, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Marc Bolan, has died aged 86. Pictured: Flowers in 1976
Flowers appears in the background as he performs alongside legends David Bowie and Marc Bolan.
Flowers was a huge musical talent, playing the double bass, tuba and electric bass. Pictured: Flowers in 2015 at the Brighton Fringe
Kevin J Conklin, husband of Flowers’ niece Lorraine Bassett, paid tribute to him and said he was “blessed” to have known him.
In a post that appeared on Facebook on Friday, she wrote: ‘Lorraine’s beloved uncle Herbie Flowers passed away yesterday.
‘While we knew and loved him as Uncle Herbie, his musical contributions likely touched your lives as well.
‘He played bass on many of the songs from the golden age of rock.
‘As a studio musician in London in the 1960s and 1970s, he met and contributed to the music of Elton John, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Mark Bolin, Cat Stevens, Harry Nilsson, Al Kooper, Melanie and many other popular musicians.
‘He was also a member of T Rex, Blue Mink and Sky.
Herbie’s best-known musical contribution was probably the iconic bass line on Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wildside’.
‘Not many of us have our own Wikipedia entry like Herbie did.
Herbie’s musical contributions continued as he worked to engage children in music later in life.
‘Herbie played a very important role in Lorraine’s life as a surrogate father. Herbie walked her down the aisle at our wedding.
“She loved him very much. I was lucky to have met him.
“We’ll miss you, Uncle Herbie! Keep up the good work.”
Herbie (left) with members of British pop group Mink in 1973
News of Flowers’ death at age 86 on Thursday was confirmed by close family members on social media.
A Facebook tribute posted on David Bowie’s official website on Sunday highlighted Flowers’ “incredible musicianship over many decades” and said he would be “dearly missed.”
An accompanying black-and-white photograph shows Flowers in the background smiling as he played alongside legends Bowie and Marc Bolan.
The statement read: ‘While we have not been able to officially confirm this, if the news is correct, we are very saddened to learn of the passing of Herbie Flowers in recent days.
Herbie in the recording studio with singer Scott Walker in the 1960s
‘His work with Bowie and associates over the years is too long to list here.
“In addition to his incredible musical talent over many decades, he was a beautiful soul and a very funny man. We will miss him greatly.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Flowers’s first foray into music began in 1956, at age 18, after being conscripted into the Royal Air Force, where he played tuba as a member of the band for nine years.
He later adopted the double bass as a second instrument and later switched to the electric bass.
After completing his military service, he played with a number of Dixieland jazz bands in the early 1960s and for a time worked as a bandleader on the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth.
By the end of the decade, Flowers was working as a session musician for record producers such as Shel Talmy, Mickie Most, Steve Rowland, Richard Perry, Gus Dudgeon and Tony Visconti.
In 1969, Flowers was a founding member of the group Blue Mink, playing on their song Melting Pot, which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart, and in the early heavy rock band Rumplestiltskin.
He was also a member of CCS and T. Rex, along with Dino Dines.
In 1979, he became co-founder of the band Sky, which enjoyed success in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Herbie Flowers performs alongside the late jazz vocalist Tina May in 2015
Flowers also tried his hand at songwriting, creating the surprise hit Grandad for Clive Dunn in 1970.
Throughout his career he played with the biggest names and contributed to recordings by Elton John, David Bowie, Lou Reed, David Essex, Bryan Ferry, Cat Stevens, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, among others.
He also played bass on Jeff Wayne’s musical version of The War of the Worlds.
Towards the end of his life, Flowers enjoyed playing jazz and worked as a bass teacher at Ardingly College in West Sussex.
Flowers was also at the forefront of a number of local community initiatives, including the founding of two community choirs, Shoreham Singers-by-Sea and Ditchling Singers.