Mitch Mitchell, legendary rock drummer for Jimi Hendrix, was found dead in his hotel room on Wednesday morning.
The British-born "natural" had finished the last West Coast date for the current Experience Hendrix Tour on Friday in Portland.
"He was a wonderful man, a brilliant musician and a true friend," said Janie Hendrix, chief executive of the Experience Hendrix Tour and Jimi's stepsister. "His role in shaping the sound of the Jimi Hendrix Experience cannot be underestimated."
Mitchell said in a recent interview that he originally met Jimi "in this sleazy little club."
"We did some Chuck Berry and took it from there," Mitchell recalled. "I suppose it worked."
Guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, also on the current Hendrix tour with Grammy-winning Jonny Lang, told press, "Mitchell was to the drums what Hendrix was to the guitar."
Mitchell also drummed with John Lennon, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards (on bass) in The Dirty Mac, a dream band that The Rolling Stones put together for their 1968 Rock and Roll Circus.
At 61, Mitchell was the last surviving member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Mitchell apparently died of natural causes.