Tributes have been paid to legendary drummer Clem Cattini after his death aged 89.
The popular and prolific session musician passed away after suffering a fall earlier this week, it has been announced.
He worked with an array of pop and rock stars, including Sir Paul McCartney, Lou Reed, the Kinks, Dusty Springfield, Lulu, Marc Bolan and latterly Paul Weller in 2010.
He also appeared on records for novelty acts such as the Wombles, the Flower Pot Men and the Goodies.
Among those praising him after learning of his death was singer Tony Christie, with whom Cattini recorded tracks such as (Is This The Way To) Amarillo.
Cattini was also a significant figure in the early years of rock'n'roll in the UK, including his work on the 1962 number one single Telstar.
When a film of the same name was made in 2009, mainly focusing on the song's producer Joe Meek, Cattini was played by James Corden.
Cattini is believed to have played on more UK number one singles, 42, than any other drummer.
Drummer Clem Cattini is pictured in April 1963 when he was a member of the Tornados
Tributes have been paid following his death aged 89 - Clem Cattini is pictured here playing at a concert in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, in December 2010
Other performers with whom he played include Donovan, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Marianne Faithfull, the Bee Gees, the Hollies and Ralph McTell.
He also came close to joining Led Zeppelin as their original drummer, having worked with bass player John Paul Jones during sessions with Donovan in the late 1960s.
Cattini later recalled being invited to lunch by the fledgling group's new manager Peter Grant 'to talk about a project'.
He added: 'We never had that lunch. Not for any reason. I was just too busy. He called again, but again we didn't have that lunch.
'A year later, when Led Zeppelin's first album was in the charts I saw Peter again and asked him if that was the project he wanted to talk about.
'It was, but there's no point regretting anything. I can't look back and change things. It wasn't a conscious decision, just circumstances.'
Cattini was born in Stoke Newington, north London, in August 1937.
His breakthrough in the music business came after playing at the famous 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho's Old Compton Street in the 1950s, renowned as the birthplace of the skiffle music movement that inspired future stars including The Beatles.
The Tornados comprised guitarists Alan Caddy and George Bellamy, drummer Clem Cattini, keyboard player Roger Lavern and bassist Heinz Burt - seen here in Holloway, north London
After playing in a group called the Beat Boys, backing the likes of Billy Fury and Marty Wilde, he joined Johnny Kidd and the Pirates and played on their August 1960 UK number one single Shakin' All Over.
He topped the charts as part of the Tornados in 1962 with the instrumental Telstar, this time not only in the UK but also the US.
Later in the decade he stood in for the Kinks' drummer Mick Avory on tracks including Till The End Of The Day, while his other number one singles included Tears by Ken Dodd, Rolf Harris's Two Little Boys, Grandad by Clive Dunn, Welcome Home by Peters and Lee and Renée and Renato's Save Your Love.
He also played on Love Affair's 1967 number one hit Everlasting Love.
That band's singer Steve Ellis died earlier this week aged 76.
Cattini was also the drummer on Dusty Springfield's 1966 chart-topper You Don't Have To Say You Love Me and backed her again for a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall 13 years later – with the audience including Princess Margaret.
In 1971 he played drums on a Paul McCartney album named Thrillington that was not released for another six years – featuring instrumental versions of tracks from Ram, the ex-Beatle's second album following the Fab Four's split.
Paul Weller invited Cattini in 2010 to drum on album track No Tears To Cry.
His other work included playing live in a 1989 West End run of The Rocky Horror Show.
Cattini published his memoirs My Life, Through the Eye of a Tornado in 2019.
Paying tribute to him this week, Tony Christie posted on Facebook: 'So very sad to hear that the great Clem Cattini, drummer of the Tornados and prolific session drummer has passed away.
'Clem played on more number 1 records than any other British drummer.
'Clem played on all my early MCA 1970's albums and all my hit singles including Is This The Way To Amarillo.
'Not only a World class musician but also a World class gentleman. Proud to have known him. My condolences and love to his family.'
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