Rick Huxley, the bassist of 60s pop group The Dave Clark Five, has died at the age of 72.

Rick Huxley joined the band in 1958 and played on hits including Bits And Pieces and Glad All Over.

His death leaves just two original members of the group – drummer and leader Dave Clark and guitarist Lenny Davidson.

Rick Huxley died on Monday and Dave Clark described the news as “devastating”.

The bass player had been battling emphysema after years of heavy smoking, but David Clark said he had recently been given a clean bill of health and his death had come as a shock.

“We’d talk once a week. I spoke to Rick on Friday, he was in great spirits,” David Clark said.

“Rick was a dear friend and an immensely talented musician with an amazing sense of humor, he always made me smile.”

David Clark went on to describe him as a “real gentleman”, adding: “He was very kind and had an amazing sense of humor – he was the funny one in the group, and a very talented musician.”

The band’s successes included a number one in January 1964 with Glad All Over; and two songs which reached number two with Bits And Pieces later that year and Everybody Knows in 1967.

They also appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in the early 1960s, not long after The Beatles did the same.

Rick Huxley, the bassist of 60s pop group The Dave Clark Five, has died at the age of 72

Rick Huxley attended when The Dave Clark Five were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame by actor and fan Tom Hanks in 2008.

A band featuring Joan Jett, John Fogerty, John Mellencamp and Billy Joel performed some of their biggest hits.

Saxophone player Denis Payton died in December 2006 and singer and keyboard player Mike Smith died in 2008.

Rick Huxley, who was from Dartford in Kent, stayed in the group until it split in 1970 and then pursued a career in property and in the music business.

His wife Anne died last year.

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