Bassist Herbie Flowers, whose lengthy and numerous profession together with work with David Bowie, Elton John, Harry Nilsson, Cat Stevens and three members of the Beatles, has died of unspecified causes at the age of 86.

The BBC reviews that Flowers’ demise was confirmed on social media by shut members of the family. He is finest recognized for composing and performing the twin bass traces on Lou Reed’s 1972 hit “Walk on the Wild Side.” He additionally performs the distinctive bass half on David Essex’s 1973 smash “Rock On” and Nilsson’s “Jump in the Fire.”

In a 2005 interview, Flowers confirmed that he was solely paid about 30 kilos for his memorable contribution to Reed’s highest-charting single, double the standard payment at the time.

“It’s never ever occurred to me that I have any right whatsoever to ask for a commission or a royalty or an involvement in the composition of the piece,” Flowers defined. “It was a magical three days and it gave me all the confidence, and it reassured me that the style of a soul jazzist had never ever disappeared. …My favorite memory was [Reed] listening to Ronnie Ross putting that baritone sax solo on the end of ‘Walk on the Wild Side.’ He just looked and said, ‘that was divine.’ And that said it all, he was divine.”

Hear Bernie Flowers Perform on Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’

Born in Isleworth, Middlesex, England in 1938, Flowers started his musical profession in 1956 by taking part in tuba for the Royal Air Force, finally switching to bass. In addition to his lengthy listing of session credit, he was at one level a member of Blue Mink, T. Rex and Sky. He co-wrote Clive Dunn’s 1970 novelty hit “Grandad.”

Flowers additionally carried out on Bowie’s Space Oddity and Diamond Dogs albums, in addition to Harry Nilsson’s Nilsson Schmilsson and Son of Schmilsson and albums from Paul McCartney (Give My Regards to Broad Street), Ringo Starr ((*86*) and Smell the Roses) and George Harrison (Somewhere in England, Gone Troppo and Brainwashed).