Kinks and Tom Jones drummer dies

Drummer Bobby Graham, who played on some of the best-known hits of the 1960s, has died at the age of 69.

Graham was heard on number one singles by The Kinks, Tom Jones and Dusty Springfield, and said he appeared on a total of 40 UK top five hits.

Graham also claimed The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein asked him to join the band after Pete Best left in 1962.

But Graham said he told Epstein: "Why would want to join a band in Liverpool that nobody's ever heard of?"

The band ended up recruiting Ringo Starr before finding global fame, while Graham became one of the most prolific and respected session drummers in Britain.

Graham's website said he performed on songs including Petula Clark's Downtown, Englebert Humperdinck's Release Me and The Kinks' You Really Got Me.

Other notable appearances included Dusty Springfield's I Only Want To Be With You, Tom Jones' Green, Green Grass of Home and the Walker Brothers' Make It Easy On Yourself.

Graham died after a long battle with stomach cancer, according to Patrick Harrington, who worked with the drummer on his autobiography.