Best known for his several decades of work with the Rolling Stones, saxophone player Bobby Keys passed away today at the age of 70.

Photo by Sean Birmingham

Keys appeared on the 1971 Dr. John album The Sun, Moon & Herbs, which also featured saxophone player Jerry Jumonville.

“We actually did meet and play together,” Jumonville said. “Not on gigs, but in recording studios.”

The music business was a much more laid-back affair in the 1970s, Jumonville said, which led to a lot of camaraderie among the musicians.

“We all got along in those days,” he said. “We loved being there. It was a lot of fun. Every recording date was like a party. We all loved each other. We just put our minds together to play what we needed to do, and we had a great time.”

Outside of the studio, Jumonville said he was more often than not just missing Keys as their careers crisscrossed.

“Bobby Keys went to England with Delaney and Bonnie,” Jumonville said. “When they came back, he went with the Rolling Stones. Delaney and Bonnie needed another saxophone, so they called me.”

Just this year, Karl Denson replaced Keys on the current Rolling Stones tour, refreshing the “New Orleans saxophone player replacing Bobby Keys” story line.

Keys also recorded with Joe Cocker, on solo projects with all four Beatles, and with artists as varied as Harry Nilsson, Jim Carroll, Graham Nash, and Barbara Streisand.

Along the way, he created some of the most memorable music of his generation, securing his place among the pantheon of great rock musicians.