Herbie Flowers, the renowned British bass guitarist who collaborated with music icons such as David Bowie, Elton John, and Paul McCartney, passed away at age 86.
According to Daily Mail Online, Flowers' death was confirmed by close family members on social media. The musician, born Brian Keith Flowers, was best known for creating the famous bass line in Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" and his work with bands like Blue Mink, T. Rex, and Sky.
Flowers' musical journey began in 1956 when he was conscripted into the Royal Air Force at the age of 18. He played the tuba as a bandsman for nine years before taking up the double bass and eventually moving to the electric bass.
His versatility and talent led him to work with numerous record producers and contribute to recordings by some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Kevin J Conklin, husband of Flowers' niece Lorraine Bassett, paid tribute to the late musician on Facebook. He highlighted Flowers' extensive contributions to the music industry and his personal connection to the family.
Conklin wrote:
While we knew and loved him as Uncle Herbie, his musical contributions have 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 60's and 70's he got to know and contribute 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.
The official David Bowie Facebook page also shared a heartfelt tribute, emphasizing Flowers' "incredible musicianship over many decades" and describing him as a "beautiful soul and a very funny man."
Flowers' career in music spanned several decades and encompassed various genres. After his military service, he played with Dixieland jazz bands in the early 1960s and even worked as a bandsman on the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth. By the end of the decade, he had established himself as a sought-after session player for numerous record producers.
In 1969, Flowers co-founded the group Blue Mink, playing on their hit song "Melting Pot," which reached Number 3 in the UK Singles Chart.
He later became a member of CCS and T. Rex, and in 1979, he co-founded the band Sky, which achieved success in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Throughout his career, Flowers played with an impressive roster of musicians 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."
In addition to his work as a bassist, Flowers tried his hand at composing, creating the surprise chart hit "Grandad" for Clive Dunn in 1970. Later in life, he focused on playing jazz and worked as a bass guitar teacher at Ardingly College in West Sussex.
Herbie Flowers' passing marks the end of an era in British music. His contributions to iconic songs and collaborations with legendary artists have left an indelible mark on the industry. Flowers' unique bass lines and musical versatility will continue to inspire future generations of musicians, ensuring his legacy lives on through the countless recordings he enriched with his talent.
